23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Legends of the Submerged Forest
The unmistakable stars of our wildlife photography expedition deep into the Brazilian Amazon on the Rio Negro were the Amazon river dolphins—curious, slow-moving and unlike any other dolphin on Earth. While diving in the blackwater, one dolphin approached, illuminated by shafts of sunlight filtering through the surface. The copper-red glow is the natural light refracting through the dark water, revealing the dolphin’s distinctive form.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 08.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Manaus, Brazil |
| Camera: | Canon EOS R5 |
| Copyright: | © LEIGHTON LUM |
Awards
| Finalist |