The Smithsonian Magazine’s Awards have once again spotlighted exceptional talent, celebrating the breathtaking achievements of photographers who capture the beauty of nature and the innovative perspectives of drone photography. This year’s outstanding winners showcase a diverse range of subjects, from majestic landscapes and rare wildlife in their natural habitats to aerial views that redefine how we see the world.
These photographs not only highlight the artistic brilliance of their creators but also underscore the importance of conservation and storytelling through visual media. The winners stand as a testament to the power of photography to inspire, educate, and connect us to the wonders of our planet.
Submit Your Best Shots to Smithsonian Magazine’s 22nd Annual Photo Contest. Scroll down and inspire yourself. You can check their website for more information.
You can find more info about Smithsonian Awards:
#1. Nature World, Winner: "Baby Alligator Floating in a Pond" by Kent Stuart
This baby alligator was with a few others and a small adult in a roadside pond in the Everglades.
#2. Nature World, Finalist: "Milkweed Tussock Caterpillars" by Sandra Lim
Milkweed tussock caterpillars skeletonize a milkweed leaf.
#3. Nature World, Finalist: "Merapi" by Mark Levitin
A lenticular cloud over the Merapi volcano in Java, Indonesia
#4. Nature World, Finalist: "Secretary bird Swallowing" by Dr Johan J Botha
The secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is an endangered species, but you do come across them in the Kalahari Desert. In Botswana’s Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, I followed two of them hunting on the ground in a dune valley for a mile or so with my vehicle on a gravel road.
#5. Nature World, Finalist: "The Family" by Olav Thokle
The cheetah Nashipae and her four three-month-old cubs
#6. Nature World, Finalist: "Sorry for Eating" by Hira Punjabi
The image of Mountain Gorilla was taken in Bwindi national park, during my gorilla trek in Uganda.
#7. Nature World, Finalist: "The Ice Mushroom" by Peter O’Hara
The image shows a frozen feature that melted with some ice chandeliers, giving the shape of a frozen ice mushroom tree. This photo is a great example of why winter is one of my favorite times of year to capture photography. You never know what wonders nature is going to create out there.
#8. Nature World, Finalist: "Da Feet" by Deena Sveinsson
I was snowshoeing on a late spring morning deep in the forests of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado when I saw this snowshoe hare sitting on a small snow mound. Luckily, there was a clear view between and behind some pesky pine tree branches.
#9. Nature World, Finalist: "Scarlet Macaw Peekaboo" by William Halladay
This photo was taken on a farm in Costa Rica, La Casa de las Lapas, that is dedicated to the protection of macaws. Due to habitat loss, their numbers have been declining. This bird was on its way to a perch when it looked over to check me out. Fortunately, my shutter was firing at that instant to capture the moment.
#10. Nature World, Finalist: "The Conductor" by Krisztina Mácsai
In springtime, we have many poppy flowers in our garden. This is also the time when the jumping spiders are getting more active. I wanted to create a photo that reflects the warm colors of the poppy with the little resident of my garden.
#11. Drone, Winner: "Rooftop Journey" by Azim Khan Ronnie
Millions of people are going home to celebrate the festival of Eid al-Fitr. Bangladesh is a riverine country, so many people travel home by boat..
#12. Drone, Finalist: "Relaxing in Ice" by An Li
A woman relaxes in Lake Michigan in February.
#13. Drone, Finalist: "The Dance of the Flamingos" by Silke Hullmann
Thousands of flamingos populate Lake Bogoria and dance on the water. There are always spots that the animals avoid for whatever reason as they form their own patterns.
#14. Drone, Finalist: "The Golden Path" by Andrea Izzotti
This shot was taken in a very remote spot, which we discovered by exploring the area with the help of satellite maps. We noticed many huge white sand dunes facing the Pacific Ocean. Getting there from the sea is almost impossible because of the long ocean wave.
#15. Drone, Finalist: "Cultural Adventure" by Shyjith Onden Cheriyath
At Ras al-Khaimah, camel handlers take their camels into the sea for a bath every winter. The salty water from the sea helps them get rid of ticks, fleas and other parasites.
#16. Drone, Finalist: "Burning of the Tower of Babel" by Maria Plotnikova
Residents celebrate the festival of Maslenitsa in Nikola-Lenivets park, in Russia’s Kaluga region.
#17. Drone, Finalist: "Car Tire Warehouse" by Mohammad Hossein Moheimani
A secret stockpile of car tires in the south of Tehran
#18. Drone, Finalist: "A Natural Hot Springs" by Madhusudan Hari
An aerial image of a natural colorful hot springs located deep in the Icelandic highlands.
#19. Drone, Finalist: "Folk Games" by Duc Bui Viet
"Pulling Song" is a traditional game, praising the martial spirit of people in river areas. The game has long been organized by many villages and communes in Binh Xuyen district during early spring festivals.
#20. Drone, Finalist: "Bull Market" by Tao Hua
The scene at a market where thousands of cattle are traded every week, just before the trade begins
