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

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Descent into light

A titan of the deep waving giant tail toward the sun lights , illuminating many remarkable patterns & marks on it's tail before descending into the blue abyss of Indian Ocean. The patterns and the marks on a sperm whale’s tail are often so unique that scientists use them to identify individuals and track them over time among the ocean.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Mauritius
Camera: ILCE-7RM5
Copyright: © Thien Nguyen Ngoc