23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Liquid Gold

Captured from an Osmo video at the sun-kissed shores of Redington Beach, Florida, on October 14, 2025, this still image plunges into the heart of a breaking wave at sunset. The vibrant blue of the ocean depth meets the explosive spray of the crest, illuminated from within by the last fiery kiss of the setting sun. Golden light shatters through the churning water, transforming each droplet into a suspended jewel as the wave curls into a powerful, mesmerizing tunnel. It's a fleeting symphony of light and liquid, where the ocean's raw power collides with the serene beauty of dusk.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Redington Beach, Florida, United States of America
Copyright: © Christy Mandeville