21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
The World Is Going Upside Down

We began our journey with a 3 hour boat ride across a sea with waves that get as high as 5 feet tall in small fibre boats that can barely fit 2 people. We entered the mouth of a small river that only has an opening between high tide and low tide; which made it impossible for us to leave the location in the afternoon as the tide departed and the ocean became too rough for our boat to pass through. As we got closer to the targeted location, the trees and jungle got too thick for our boat to pass so we were forced to continue on foot. Trekking through tree limbs with huge crocodile-infested water at waist depth and cameras held above our heads. Finally I made it to my final destination, the huge tree and I climbed up on it for this shot and waited for a nearby orangutang to climb up and pass me. I purposely wanted to get the beautiful sky as well as the subject facing me. Since the orangutan only likes to face upwards as it climbs, I knew the only way I could combine these two elements in one frame was to be above the orangutan and point downwards to capture the face and perfect reflection of the sky in the still water below it. The most challenging part of this experience was staying calm while the orangutan was in front of me. After spending few days in Borneo, I got this frame stuck in my mind, I wanted to capture all 4 elements in one frame the sky, the water, the amazing habitat they live in, and the subject facing me. I knew the only way I could combine these elements in one frame was to be above the orangutan and position downwards to capture the face and the perfect reflection of the sky in the still water below it.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Borneo, Indonesia
Camera: NIKON D850
Copyright: © THOMAS VIJAYAN