23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Ducks dancing on the water

This image captures a moment of natural harmony between movement and stillness. In the warm light of the setting sun, the water surface becomes a backdrop for the birds’ gentle movements; their coordinated movement seems to form a kind of slow, unconscious dance. This natural dance is neither pre-planned nor requires human staging; rather, it is the result of the inherent connection between creatures and their surroundings. In this frame, the water acts as a neutral, silent space upon which the ducks’ movement finds meaning. The light, reflection, and texture of the waves lend the image a meditative quality, inviting the viewer to observe a moment in which nature reveals the rhythm of life with simple but precise expression.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Rasht, Iran
Copyright: © Hanieh Moradgholi