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