ELIGIBILITY:

The Grand Prize, Readers’ Choice prize, Natural World, Travel, People, The American Experience, Artistic Images and Drone/Aerial category prizes are open to photographers who are 18 years old or older. Individuals affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, including employees, emeriti, Regents, trustees, interns, volunteers, fellows, research associates and their immediate families (children, parents, siblings and spouses) and others living in their households are not eligible for any prize. The Smithsonian will determine winners’ eligibility in its sole discretion.

To be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant since January 1, 2020. This date applies to all images in a composite. The contestant certifies that he/she is the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted photograph.

The following six contest categories are drawn from subjects of special interest to Smithsonian magazine:

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

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

People: Portraits and photos of groups or individuals.

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.

Artistic Images: Visuals that use photography as a creative and imaginative platform to express an idea or concept. These images can be manipulated in any method, either through photo editing software or other techniques.

Drone/Aerial: Any photograph captured using an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone. Images shot from planes/helicopters are also accepted.

BENEFIT:

Eight prizes will be awarded, as follows:

Grand Prize: $2,500.

Category Winners: The winners of each of the six categories will receive $500.

Readers’ Choice: The winner of the online Readers’ Choice award will receive $500.