23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Drone/Aerial
Flight Over an Ancient Map
From a helicopter above Lake Natron, the patterns on the lakebed resembled an ancient hand-drawn map—etched not by human hands, but by the wandering paths of flamingos. Using a high-shutter speed to freeze a small group in flight, I captured them gliding over a tapestry of natural lines and textures that looked almost cartographic.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 10.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Lake Natron, Kenya |
| Camera: | NIKON Z 9 |
| Copyright: | © Yoshiki Nakamura |