23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Drone/Aerial
Spiral of Light
Photographed from a small helicopter over Lake Natron, this image was created using a 1/10-second exposure combined with intentional zooming and rotational movement of the camera. The technique transformed a flock of lesser flamingos into a spiral of light, with each bird leaving a soft brushstroke across the earthy tones of the lakebed.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 10.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Lake Natron, Kenya |
| Camera: | NIKON Z 9 |
| Copyright: | © Yoshiki Nakamura |