23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Sizing Up Before the Battle
On the vast, stratified face of the mountain, two figures of immense power were locked in a silent, tense negotiation. Below, on a small patch of snow-dusted ground, stood the Lighter Bear, its golden-brown coat a beacon against the grey rock. It had trespassed. High above, nestled into a precarious ledge, its coat the color of damp earth and shadow, was the Darker Bear.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 04.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Dras, India |
| Camera: | Canon EOS R5m2 |
| Copyright: | © Kapil Bhagwat |