Smithsonian Magazine’s 10th Annual Photo Contest has just announced the 50 finalists for this year’s competition. The contest received over 37,600 photo submissions from photographers in 112 countries around the world.

The Smithsonian will be awarding eight prizes:
Grand Prize: $2,500
Category Winners: The winners of each of the five categories will receive $500
Readers’ Choice: The winner of the online Readers’ Choice award will receive $500
Mobile: The best photo in any of the five categories that was taken with a mobile device will receive $500.

The five contest categories this year include:
The American Experience — Events, objects or activities connecting the American people to their history or their cultural heritage; photographs that tell us what it means to be an American and provide a sense of what it is like to live in this country.

The Natural World — Animals, plants and landscapes; geological or climatological features; and scientific processes and endeavors.

People — Individuals from all walks of life.

Altered Images — Photographs manipulated for artistic purposes by applying digital and/or traditional special effects (i.e. colorizing, toning, collage, photo composites, HDR, etc.).

Travel — Locales, peoples or activities in the United States and abroad that convey a sense of place.

Starting on March 29, 2013, the public can begin voting for the Reader’s Choice Winner on Smithsonian.com. All winners will be announced in June.

Smithsonian has also launched a new video contest entitled In Motion. The contest is open for entries until May 31, 2013, with over $4,000 available in prizes.

 

 

 

Albuquerque, NM: An Onlooker Witnesses the Annular Solar Eclipse as the Sun Sets on May 20, 2012. Colleen Pinski, Finalist – The Natural World.

 

 

Ninh Hoa District, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam: People Harvesting Salt at Sunset. Giang Hai Hoang, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Bacson, Langson, Vietnam: Alternating Rice Plots in the Bacson Valley in July. Hai Thinh Hoang, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia: The Ants Holding Seeds. Eko Adiyanto, Finalist – The Natural World.

 

 

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT: A Lone Hiker Viewed the Path Before Him as the Milky Way Rose in the Night Sky. Jason Hatfield, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Monks Releasing Lanterns During Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Daniel Nahabedian, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Nazareth, Israel: In One of the Small Churches in Nazareth. Ilan Fain, Finalist – People.

 

 

Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tennessee: A Pair of Bald Eagles Share a Meal. Don Holland, Finalist – The Natural World.

 

 

Trim, Ireland: Grey Smoke Hair. Michal Baran, Finalist – Altered.

 

 

Duluth, Minnesota: A Man-Made Ice Geyser. Nathan Carlsen, Finalist – The Natural World.

 

 

Namibia: Lone Acacia, Sossusvlei Sand Dunes. Bob Bush, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Thrissur, Kerala, India: Puli Kali in the Annual Festival Onam. Indranil Sengupta, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Mulungwishi, Deomcratic Republic of Congo: Christine, 20-years-old, with Her First Child a Few Months Old. Paolo Patruno, Finalist – People.

 

 

Bronx Zoo, NYC: Visiting the Bronx Zoo. Vanessa Bartlett, Finalist – The Natural World.

 

 

Southport, UK: Baby Owl in Studio. Phillip Pilkington, Finalist – The Natural World.

 

 

New York City, New York: Nighttime at Times Square, NYC. Doug Van de Zande, Finalist – Americana.

 

 

Antarctica: Breeding Penguins. Neal Piper, Finalist – The Natural World.

 

 

Rio Caqueta, Amazonas, Colombia: Guardians of the Forest. Piers Calvert, Finalist – People.

 

 

Dhaka, Bangladesh: A Day Laborer Works at a Chemical Drum Recycling Plant. Raihan Parvez, Finalist – People.

 

 

Moulvibazar, Bangladesh: Worshipers at Charak Puja in Moulvibazar, Bangladesh. Md. Akhlas Uddin, Finalist – People.

 

 

Chicago, IL: Blues in the Streets of Chicago. Javier Arcenillas, Finalist – Americana.

 

 

La Pan Tan, Mu Cang Chay, Yen Bai, Viet Nam: Rice Terraces Close to Harvest Season. Vo Anh Kiet, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Hanoi, Vietnam: The Last Pollen Spore Preparing to Leave a Ladybird Trying to Hold On, Because It Didn’t Want to Be Alone. Hiep Nguyen Hoang, Finalist – Altered.

 

 

Xiao Donjiang, Hunan, China: River Ferry Operating in the Early Morning in Xiao Donjiang, China. Teng Hin Khoo, Finalist – Travel.

 

 

Mount Rainier, WA: The Milky Way Galaxy Exploding from Mount Rainier. David Morrow, Finalist – The Natural World.