23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Silent Gaze

A tiny damselfly perches atop a delicate chamomile flower, its large blue eyes meeting the viewer in a moment of quiet connection. Framed by soft green and yellow tones, the scene captures nature’s fragile balance and silent poetry. The simplicity of the flower contrasts with the sharp gaze of the insect, inviting us to pause and rediscover the unnoticed beauty of small lives around us.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Muskiz, Bizkaia, Spain
Camera: ILCE-7RM5
Copyright: © Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra