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

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Seal level, Seismic Activity, and Climate Change.

I was perched on a stone slab when this unidentified little one wandered into my photo during the King Tides along the Embarcadero, beneath the iconic Bay Area, in San Francisco, CA. While the unexpected burst of color accentuates the image, I realized that I had forgotten to bring my Super(wo)man cape, goggles, and swim cap with me that day. Fortunately, the guardian came running to catch up to the child -- but geesh – for a split moment, I wondered if a rescue might be necessary, one must be careful in and around these waters. Nice image but a precarious split-second moment. King Tides occur when there is gravitational pull and alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth. This alignment causes unusual water levels and portend danger to humans, the coast line, and coast property.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: San Francisco, Ca, United States of America
Copyright: © Ana Fuentes