23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Under The Stars

An Aldabra giant tortoise grazes under the stars on Bird Island, Seychelles. With a lifespan of up to 200 years and a weight exceeding 300 kg, the Aldabra giant tortoise is one of the most extraordinary creatures on our planet. I spent three nights tracking these tortoises, which mostly slept among the trees, making them nearly impossible to photograph. However, out of the 25 tortoises on the island, there were always one or two that continued grazing at night—I just had to find them. Due to the close proximity of the tortoise and the vast distance of the stars, I had to quickly adjust focus to infinity immediately after a brief flash during the long exposure to ensure that both the tortoise and the stars appeared sharp in a single shot.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Bird Island, Seychelles
Camera: DC-S1RM2
Copyright: © Bence Máté