Smithsonian magazine 18th Annual Photo Contest begins March 31, 2020, and ends November 30, 2020, at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest and states that he or she is 18 years old or older.

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

1. Natural World: Animals, plants and landscapes; geological or climatological features; and scientific processes and endeavors.
   
2. Travel: Locales, peoples or activities in the United States and abroad that convey a sense of place.
   
3. People: Portraits and photos of groups or individuals.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Altered Images: Photographs manipulated for artistic purposes by applying digital and/or traditional special effects.
   
6. Mobile: Any photograph taken with a mobile device (phone or tablet).

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Grand Prize winner: $2,500.
Category winners: $500
Readers' Choice winner: $500

OUR FREE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST RECOMMENDATION OF THE DAY!

A single image can be burned into one's soul so that it is never forgotten. A video of only a few seconds in length can be shared around the world to create a new trend. In this age when digital technology and social networking platforms have become so popular and anyone can communicate as an artist, the possibilities for imaging expression are expanding without end.

In holding the Nikon Photo Contest yet again, we at Nikon are looking for works that use the power of imaging to appeal to others. This Contest has been held since 1969. That's roughly half a century promoting a vision of supporting creators who influence others through the global language of imaging, regardless of their age, nationality, or background. We hope to provide a place where like-minded artists who seriously pursue imaging expression can acknowledge, inspire, and challenge one another.

This year's Contest will be comprised of a photo competition and a short film competition.
The theme for the Open category in both competitions is "Connect". In today's society, images have become a familiar means of communication with billions of photos and videos shared via the Internet every day. It can be said that we humans are searching for new, never-before-seen ways to bond and communicate. Therefore, we are looking for entries in the Open category that express the connections artists feel now in their own unique ways.
The theme for the Next Generation category open to artists aged 25 years old and younger is "Passion". Passion has the power to stimulate people's feelings, create empathy, and change the future. We are looking for entries in the Next Generation category that convey the passion young artists feel in and around themselves through images.

Our goal with this Contest is to share the new value of imaging with more people as we pursue imaging's ultimate potential. We want artists to express their inner creativity through images and inspire emotion and courage in others as we head into the future together.

Grand Prize *1No. of Winners：1 per competition, total 2

• Prize money of 500,000 yen (Japanese yen)

Excellence AwardNo. of Winners：2 per category, total 4

• Photo Competition : Z 7 and a NIKKOR Z lens 
• Short Film Competition : Z 6 and two NIKKOR Z lenses 

​Special Encouragement AwardNo. of Winners：4 per category, total 16

• Photo Competition : Z 5 and a NIKKOR Z lens 
• Short Film Competition : Z 50 and two NIKKOR Z lenses and video accessories 

Special AwardNikon’s selection Award *2No. of Winners：1 per competition, total 2

• Photo Competition : Z 5 and a NIKKOR Z lens 
• Short Film Competition : Z 50 and two NIKKOR Z lenses and video accessories