This is one of the finalists in Smithsonian.com’s 12th Annual Photo Contest.  It was selected from over 26,500 entires by photographers from 93 different countries. This photo of a wave striking an elephant seal pup was taken by Anthony Smith on South Georgia Island in January, 2014. “Young elephant seals were sprawled all over the upper beaches in a remote sub-Antarctic region of the Atlantic, but for some reason this youngster had chose to lie down to rest right within the surf!” says Smith.

Don’t miss the other finalists here at Smithsonian.com: 12th Annual Photo Contest Finalists