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