23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
The Woodland Dancer
In the dim light of early morning, a young mallard noticed me by the pond and lifted her wings in a slow, sleepy stretch. Balanced on a fallen log, she relaxed again almost instantly, eyes drifting shut as the forest stayed quiet around us.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 09.2024 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Hampton, Virginia, United States of America |
| Camera: | Canon EOS R5 |
| Copyright: | © Beata Whitehead |