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

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Stealth Hunter

Under the waning soft light of an Arctic dusk high in the northern fjords of Norway, a pod of orcas hunt for herring while seagulls whirl overhead looking for scraps. The pod uses a clever tactic of corralling the herring into a ball while taking turns to surface for air (below the two surfacing orcas were others beneath the surface corralling the fish and feeding). Sometimes an orca would break the surface in a spy hop to view their surroundings and spot for incoming humpback whales.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2023
Date Uploaded: 12.2024
Photo Location: Skjervøy, Norway
Camera: Canon EOS R6
Copyright: © Charlie Wemyss-Dunn