23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
Watercolors

Remnants of copper mining linger in tailing ponds where minerals have settled into vivid layers of turquoise, rust, and ochre. From above, these colorful deposits form striking yet unsettling abstract patterns. They mark the intersection of natural chemistry and industrial extraction. It’s a landscape where beauty and environmental cost are inextricably linked.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Spain
Camera: L2D-20c
Copyright: © Sebastian Wohlfeil