Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Birds in Blight

This image, taken in Walvis Bay, Namibia, captures the delicate grace of flamingos in what is ironically called a "bird sanctuary". The flamingos are juxtaposed against the stark intrusion of human activity: looming power lines, piles of earth, and nearby wastelands. It is a commentary on the uneasy coexistence of nature and human progress, where even sanctuaries are not immune to the spread of urban and industrial sprawl.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2024
Date Uploaded: 12.2024
Photo Location: walvis bay, Namibia
Camera: NIKON D850
Copyright: © Alexandre Brisson