23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Harmony in Motion

This photograph captures a serene moment between two dolphin trainers and their aquatic companions at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. The scene is a study in rhythm and connection — where human gestures and dolphin movements mirror one another in near-perfect synchrony. The tranquil of the water and the subtle reflections enhance the sense of harmony, evoking both the precision of training and the poetry of interspecies understanding. Through timing and composition, the image highlights the silent dialogue between the trainers and dolphins — a wordless language built on trust, empathy, and repetition.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Camera: ILCE-6300
Copyright: © Irina Petrova Adamatzky