A hippopotamus rises from the water with its enormous mouth held wide open. The sight brings the thrill of seeing a powerful animal at the water's surface in a moment of startling display. You can follow the pink interior and curved rows of teeth, then notice how much of the hippo remains hidden beneath the ripples. A second hippo's head rests low in the foreground, giving the raised jaws a quieter counterpoint. Reflections and scattered highlights animate the water, while the soft, dark bank keeps your attention on the animals. There is something fascinating about the contrast between the massive body mostly concealed and the broad, unmistakable mouth opened to its full span. The nearer hippo's low position makes the display behind it feel all the more surprising, without taking away from the animals' imposing presence.