2014 Smithsonian Photo Contest Finalists Show Nature In Its Finest Moments

Mar 11, 2015

Liron Samuels

It’s that time of the year when a lot of the major photography contests reveal their winners and finalists.

We’ve recently shared with you the top photos from the Sony World Photography Awards, World Press Photo and the Wellcome Image Awards, and now it’s time for the Smithsonian’s 12^th Annual Photo Contest.

Despite the multitude of contests, the Smithsonian’s finalists are all incredible photos.

Below are 15 of the 60 finalists, chosen out of 26,500 entries.

Photographers from 93 different countries participated in this year’s contest and the judges have chosen ten finalists in each of the categories: Natural World, Travel, People, Americana, Altered Images and Mobile.

Smithsonian.com will also be giving a Readers’ Choice award, and you can help determine who will win.

The polling opened yesterday and will remain open through March 30^th at 5 p.m. ET. The photograph that receives the most votes by then will receive a $500 cash prize.

Each person can vote once every 24 hours, so you can cast up to 20 votes from now until the deadline ends.

The Reader’s Choice winner, as well as the Grand Prize ($2,500) and category winners will be announced on March 31.

Once the 2014 winners are announced the 2015 contest will officially open, in case you’d like to participate.

Visit the finalists’ gallery to see the rest of the finalists and to cast your votes.

Natural World

Brown bear walking in an estuary in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. Kevin Morgans (Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire, U.K.) — Brown bear walking in an estuary in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. Kevin Morgans. Canon 1D X.

This is a harmless snake but very restless, getting out a photograph of his whole body was the challenge. Alvaro Cubero Vega (Costa Rica). Canon 5D Mark II.

Light refracts through the curves of a breaking wave. Ray Collins (Sydney, Australia). Nikon D4.

A snake swallows an unlucky frog. Nicolas Reusens (Madrid, Spain). Canon 5D Mark III.

People

Onno, a teenage girl from the Arbore tribe. Matjaz Krivic (Ljubljana, Slovenia). Canon 5D Mark II.

A albino child attends an exhibition about albinos at the Ethnology Museum of Valencia. Ana Yturralde (Valencia, Spain). Canon 5D Mark II.

Sewing the fishing net. Pham Ty (Vietnam). Sony NEX-6.

On the village river. Thuong Tin, Hanoi, Vietnam. Viet Phuong Tran (Hanoi, Vietnam). Canon 1Ds Mark II.

Travel

Densely packed christian cemetary in Hong Kong. Brian Yen (Hong Kong). Canon 1Ds Mark III.

Young buddhist novices playing in Hsinbyume Pagoda, Myanmar. Sergio Carbajo Rodriguez (La Garriga, Spain). Nikon D600.

Girl looking out the window of a slow train, while an old woman sleeps. Kayah State, Myanmar. Jorge Fernandez (Spain). Nikon D700.

This photo was taken at the suburban village. At the end of the day, the children went swimming at the river at of the end the village. Bani, Burkina Faso. Matjaz Krivic (Ljubljana, Slovenia). Canon 5D Mark II.

Americana

Leslie is a tiny little lady who works with the big dogs. Her attitude and sarcasm allows her to fit in just fine with the rough edged construction men. Kristen Keefer (Glenwood Springs, Colorado).

July 4th celebration on the bank of the Willamette River in Independence, Oregon. Anne Marcom (McMinnville, Oregon). Olympus E3.

U.S. President Barack Obama stands in the Oval Office of the White House October 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. Olivier Douliery (Arlington, Virginia). Nikon D4.

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Inspiration

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Liron Samuels

Liron Samuels is a wildlife and commercial photographer based in Israel. When he isn’t waking up at 4am to take photos of nature, he stays awake until 4am taking photos of the night skies or time lapses. You can see more of his work on his website or follow him on Facebook.

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