23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Painted horizon

The photo shows dunlin (Calidris alpina) illuminated by the special blue-hour light of a late-summer sunset. The soft, pastel tones of the blue hour blend with the fading warmth of the day, creating a serene and almost dreamlike atmosphere around the bird.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Hungary
Camera: NIKON Z 9
Copyright: © Timea Ambrus