23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Raindrop Jewels

Delicate cup fungi rise from the damp forest floor, their fine hairs adorned with sparkling droplets of rain. Each drop clings like a tiny crystal, refracting the blue tones of the night and turning the fungi into living ornaments of the rainforest. The backdrop of streaking raindrops adds rhythm and movement, contrasting with the fungi’s fragile stillness. The scene feels like a glimpse into nature’s hidden jewelry box, revealed only under the rain.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2024
Date Uploaded: 09.2025
Photo Location: Goa, India
Camera: NIKON D7500
Copyright: © AVILASH GHOSH