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