23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
The Speed of Light
In Kenya’s Maasai Mara, a cheetah burst into motion, accelerating across the plains with astonishing speed and precision. The chase unfolded in seconds—a silent storm of muscle, instinct, and grace. As it pursued a Thomson’s gazelle through the tall grass, the surrounding world seemed to dissolve into streaks of green and gold.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 10.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Maasai Mara, Kenya |
| Camera: | NIKON Z 9 |
| Copyright: | © Yoshiki Nakamura |