Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Reflection

Lake Marion, nestled within the wild of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, is often undetected. Hidden from the long road that bee-lines for the famous Milford Sound, this undisturbed lake surrounded by glacial mountains is often left motionless and still. For explorers and adventurers alike, it is places like Lake Marion that make you realize how unexpected nature really is. With Milford Sound at the end of the line, all else should pale in comparison, right? So I was told. For me, exploring and appreciating the world around me is about finding the hidden treasures that serve as a reminder that the world isn't divided into distinct natural wonders, but that the magic is found in the stillness and from reflecting within.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2014
Date Uploaded: 07.2015
Photo Location: New Zealand
Camera: NIKON D7000
Copyright: © Kate Vlessis