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The Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest is a prestigious international photography competition held annually by Smithsonian Magazine (USA). This year marks the 17th edition of the contest, featuring six categories: Nature, People, Travel, Experiencing America, Edited Photos, and Mobile Phone Photos. Each category has 10 finalists, selected from over 36,000 entries from photographers in 145 countries and territories.
From now until March 30th, Smithsonian magazine is open for reader voting on its Reader's Choice Awards. The winner of the Grand Prize, the six winners of each subcategory, and the overall Reader's Choice winner will be announced on March 31st, 2020. Each winning entry will receive a prize of $2,500.
Below are some of the finalist entries this year, notably including many photographs of Vietnamese life and nature taken by both domestic and international photographers.
"Larung Gar Buddhist Academy" by Attila Balogh (Hungary) is a finalist in the Travel photography category. This is the largest Tibetan Buddhist academy in the world.
"Skimboarding at The Wedge, Orange County, CA" by Sagi Roitfarb (Israel) is a finalist in the Travel photography category. The Wedge, located at the easternmost point of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California, is known for its large waves and is a favorite among surfers and paddleboarders.
Lori Kupsch's (Canada) photograph "Train Through the Mountains" was a finalist in the Travel photography category. "Photographers often have to wait hours to capture a train passing through the famous Morant Bend in Banff National Park. My friend and I were lucky enough to catch one in about 20 minutes. Once the train had passed, we took a long exposure and blurred the train as it went around the bend, making its vibrant red color stand out even more against the white snow."
"Iceberg Tower" by Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn (Thailand) was a finalist in the Travel photography category, depicting a sunset over an ice tower in Disko Bay, Greenland.
"Blooming" by Nguyen Ngoc Thien (Ho Chi Minh City) was shortlisted in the Tourism photography category. The photograph depicts a fishing boat pulling in its nets during the anchovy fishing season in the waters off Hon Yen, Phu Yen. Some of the freshly caught fish are sold at the market, while the rest...
"Cave Fishing" by Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn (Thailand) was shortlisted in the Tourism photography category. The image depicts a father and son using a fishing net to catch fish in a cave in Kien Luong, Kien Giang, Vietnam.
Jim Guerard's (USA) photograph "Two Whales" was a finalist in the Travel photography category, depicting a humpback whale flicking its tail beside a large iceberg shaped like a sperm whale, off the coast of East Greenland.
"Harvesting Water Lilies" by Nguyen Tan Tuan (Ho Chi Minh City) was shortlisted in the Tourism photography category, depicting women washing water lilies in a flooded field in Moc Hoa, Long An.
"Nueva Venecia" by Javier Arcenillas (Spain) is a finalist in the Travel photography category. Nueva Venecia is a surreal, palafito town located between the Colombian cities of Colombia and Santa Marta. Its 3,000 inhabitants live in isolation on boats, children go to school by canoe, and each house is an island.
Jon Enoch's (UK) photo, "A Fish Seller Displays His Goods," was a finalist in the Travel photography category. It depicts bags of ornamental fish placed on a frame on a motorcycle seat. Enoch said he spent a week observing the seller's transportation process.
