23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Underwater fireworks

Exposing the enigmatic world of coral reproduction reveals a fascinating show of life beneath the waves. Like clockwork, thousands of corals spanning hundreds of kilometers synchronize their efforts, releasing egg-and-sperm bundles into the open sea. Yet capturing this mesmerizing phenomenon is no small feat, demanding precision and patience as it unfolds fleetingly, occurring once a year, on a specific night of a particular month, and within a narrow time window of mere minutes. This captivating image stands as a testament to an ongoing scientific-documentary journey, where the vibrant nightlife and intricate reproductive rituals of corals and other reef dwellers in the northern Red Sea unfold. Immersing myself in this ambitious project, I dedicated over 300 nights to unveiling the secrets of the coral reef's major reproduction season.

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