23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Underwater Colorful Snowstorm

Once a year, on a specific month, night, and hour, thousands of corals along hundreds of kilometers spawn their vibrant egg-sperm bundles into the open sea—this is how corals make babies. Witnessing this magical phenomenon gives a unique aesthetic sensation as if you are looking at an underwater colorful snowstorm. This image was taken during an ongoing project documenting the nightlife of coral-reef dwellers in the northern Red Sea.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Eilat, Israel
Camera: ILCE-1
Copyright: © Tom Shlesinger