23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
The Last Song of Sol

As the sun, a blazing sphere of orange and gold, dips below the horizon, a song bird offers its evening benediction. Captured in perfect silhouette upon the sturdy crown of a sunflower, the bird seems to pour its very soul into the twilight. This image is a celebration of resilience and the powerful, elemental bond between earth, light, and life in the final moments of day.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2025
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Canada
Copyright: © Picart/Dennis Liu