23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Leo Carrillo

An emotional ICM study of a breaking wave at Leo Carrillo State Beach near Malibu, CA. The long exposure and deliberate motion blur transform the water's energy into a fluid, impressionistic interpretation, evoking the powerful, transient force of the Pacific Ocean.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2023
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Malibu, California, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Steve Smith