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Every year for the past 12 years, the Smithsonian has collected some of the best photos from around the world to feature in their annual photo contest. Now that they've revealed their finalists, we finally have the opportunity to see some of the best photos from the 2014 contest, which had more than 26,500 entries done by professional photographers from 93 different countries.

The Smithsonian's photo editors chose ten finalists each from the Natural World, Travel, People, Americana, Altered Images and Mobile categories. Voting is also open for the reader's choice award, which will be awarded $500 and be presented together with the category winners ($500 prizes) and the Grand Prize photo ($2,500 prize) on March 31st. This date will also mark the opening of the 2015 competition!

The Smithsonian has a knack for collecting wonderful wildlife photos – their 'Wilderness Forever' contest had some amazing wildlife photography submissions!

More info: smithsonianmag.com (h/t: lustik)

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Light Refracts Through The Curves Of A Breaking Wave, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Light Refracts Through The Curves Of A Breaking Wave, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Ray Collins Report

Final score:
91points
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#2

A Green Iguana Surfaces For Air, Bonaire, Netherlands

A Green Iguana Surfaces For Air, Bonaire, Netherlands

Lorenzo Mittiga Report

Final score:
77points
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#3

A Wave Strikes An Elephant Seal Pup, South Georgia Island

A Wave Strikes An Elephant Seal Pup, South Georgia Island

Anthony Smith Report

Final score:
71points
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#4

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Ely, Minnesota

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Ely, Minnesota

Dawn LaPointe Report

Final score:
67points
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SteveLockarboe
SteveLockarboe
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love photography, and if I could take a photo like this, I would legit throw my camera in the water.

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#5

Snake, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Snake, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Nicolas Reusens Report

Final score:
66points
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#6

Spring In Palouse, Palouse, Washington

Spring In Palouse, Palouse, Washington

Ernest Wright Report

Final score:
65points
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#7

Women Of A Small Village Near Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam, Sew A Fishing Net While Their Husbands Fish, Vinh Hy Bay, Ninh Thuan, Vietnam

Women Of A Small Village Near Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam, Sew A Fishing Net While Their Husbands Fish, Vinh Hy Bay, Ninh Thuan, Vietnam

Pham Ty Report

Final score:
63points
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#8

While Firemen Were Putting Out A Fire In Chicago, The Water Froze And Coated Everything In Ice, Chicago, Illinois

While Firemen Were Putting Out A Fire In Chicago, The Water Froze And Coated Everything In Ice, Chicago, Illinois

Frank Miles Richert Report

Final score:
63points
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#9

Fog Weaves Through Forest Trees, New Forest, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Fog Weaves Through Forest Trees, New Forest, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Ellie Davies Report

Final score:
61points
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#10

A Girl Stares In Wonder At An Aquarium Tank, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California

A Girl Stares In Wonder At An Aquarium Tank, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California

Royce Hutain Report

Final score:
60points
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JudySmith
JudySmith
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderment & Inspiration.! A lifetime of possibilities being born.

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#11

A Woman Collects Water Lilies, Chau Doc, Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A Woman Collects Water Lilies, Chau Doc, Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Nhiem Hoang Report

Final score:
58points
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#12

A Vicuña, Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador

A Vicuña, Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador

Kristhian Castro Report

Final score:
54points
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#13

Mobula Rays Gather To Feed On Plankton Attracted By Dive Lights, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Mobula Rays Gather To Feed On Plankton Attracted By Dive Lights, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Michel Labrecque Report

Final score:
53points
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Morgano13
Morgano13
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How in the world would one take a picture like this!?!?!?!?

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#14

A Girl With Albinism, Valencia, Spain

A Girl With Albinism, Valencia, Spain

Ana Yturralde Report

Final score:
51points
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#15

A Fisherman Checks His Net In The Early Morning, Lam Dong, Dalat, Vietnam

A Fisherman Checks His Net In The Early Morning, Lam Dong, Dalat, Vietnam

Hoang Long Ly Report

Final score:
49points
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#16

Young Buddhist Novices Play In Hsinbyume Pagoda, Mingun, Mandalay, Myanmar

Young Buddhist Novices Play In Hsinbyume Pagoda, Mingun, Mandalay, Myanmar

Carbajo Rodriguez Report

Final score:
48points
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#17

The Caracolera Is A Common, But Restless Snake, Selva Verde Lodge, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

The Caracolera Is A Common, But Restless Snake, Selva Verde Lodge, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

Álvaro Cubero Vega Report

Final score:
46points
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#18

A Brown Bear Walks Across An Estuary, (lake Clark National Park, Alaska

A Brown Bear Walks Across An Estuary, (lake Clark National Park, Alaska

Kevin Morgans Report

Final score:
46points
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#19

Fireworks Shower Onlookers In Sparks During Holy Week Celebrations, Acobamba, Tarma, Peru

Fireworks Shower Onlookers In Sparks During Holy Week Celebrations, Acobamba, Tarma, Peru

David Huamani Bedoya Report

Final score:
37points
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sunnypat
sunnypat
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

#2What a lucky girl to be immersed in visions of the natural world. I had Life mag Dad brought home Fri with 4 Heath Bars, a weekend treat.

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#20

A Woman And Her Child Place Dyed Threads Out To Dry, Santipure, Nadia, India

A Woman And Her Child Place Dyed Threads Out To Dry, Santipure, Nadia, India

Bhaskar Sur Report

Final score:
36points
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#21

Fog Creeps Under The Manhattan Bridge, New York, New York

Fog Creeps Under The Manhattan Bridge, New York, New York

Az Jackson Report

Final score:
36points
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Affy avatar
Affy
Affy
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read "FOG" as "FROG", now i feel so DUMB cuz i've been searching a leaping frog all this while! :)

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#22

Onno Is A Teenage Girl From The Arbore Tribe, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Onno Is A Teenage Girl From The Arbore Tribe, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Matjaz Krivic Report

Final score:
25points
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#23

Muslims Walk Along A Retaining Wall Towards A Mosque To Pray, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Muslims Walk Along A Retaining Wall Towards A Mosque To Pray, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jefflin Ling Report

Final score:
10points
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#24

A Young Mursi Man Holds An Ak-47, Marenke, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

A Young Mursi Man Holds An Ak-47, Marenke, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Jorge Fernandez Report

Final score:
9points
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Jonathan Demme
Jonathan Demme
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Greetings My name is Jonathan Demme presently living in France i make a proposal i wish to share with you i will brief you more once i hear from you as soon as possible i will like to discuss with you, but not here in email me to (jonathandemmie@gmail.com) With xRegards Jonathan Demme

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#25

President Barack Obama Stands In The Oval Office Of The White House, Washington, D.c.

President Barack Obama Stands In The Oval Office Of The White House, Washington, D.c.

Olivier Douliery Report

Final score:
9points
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LeslieCully
LeslieCully
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Striking juxtaposition! Our current President, sired by a Black man, and President Lincoln, who freed the slaves. I like it.

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