Zac Smith, One seagull and there shadow. (AERIAL 2026)

The drone hovered directly above the shoreline, and I looked straight down, the lens capturing a stunning contrast: golden sand swept smooth by the wind, glowing like molten acrylic paint beneath the morning sun. Each ripple and grain cast long, delicate shadows, sculpted by the westerly breeze. The sand looked as though it had been brushed by an artist, not shaped by wind and time. Then, just as I adjusted the frame, a single seagull drifted through the wind below me, wings outstretched, perfectly balanced in the air. It cast a sharp, unmistakable shadow on the sand, a fleeting silhouette that mirrored its effortless flight. For a split second, it glided in the foreground of the shot, bird and shadow suspended between worlds. That was the moment I pressed the shutter.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.