21 of the Best Wilderness Photos From Smithsonian’s Photo Contest Celebrating 50 Years of Protecting America’s Wildlife
Fifty years ago, the US adopted the Wilderness Act, which has since protected over 109 million acres of American wilderness. To celebrate this milestone, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has revealed a photo exhibit entitled “Wilderness Forever: 50 Years of Protecting America’s Wild Places.”
The exhibit is comprised of photographs selected by judges for successfully capturing the essence, power and beauty of wild America. The chosen photos came from more than 5,000 submissions from artists and photographers nationwide. Like the people who took them, these photos span the entire country, from Alaska to New York, from Minnesota to Florida.
You can see the rest of the photos and vote for your favorite on the contest page. The exhibit runs through summer 2015 and each month, the photograph with the most votes will be highlighted as that month’s winner.
Read more at http://wilderness.smithsonian.com/vote/vote-180952419/#CxcD5W7tP8sudmlB.99
Red Fox, Denali National Park, Alaska
Image credit: Dee Ann Pederson
White Pocket, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs, Arizona
Image credit: Richard Ansley
Meadow of Wildflowers, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Image credit: John Richter
Milky Way over Second Beach, Olympic Wilderness, Washington
Image credit: Joe LeFevre
Brown Bear, Katmai Wilderness, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Image credit: Robert Amuroso
Sunset Paddle, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
Image credit: Dawn M. La Pointe
Mountain Goat Kids, Mount Evans Wilderness, Colorado
Image credit: Verdon Tomajko
Aurora Ridge Trail, Sol Duc Valley, Washington
Image credit: Pablo McCloud
Alaska Range, Denali Wilderness In Alaska
Image credit: Tim Iken
Banner Peak Alpenglow, California
Image credit: Brad Goldpaint
American Alligator, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Florida
American Alligator, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Florida
Image credit: Jenna Van Kley
Bald Eagle, Glacier Bay Wilderness Area, Alaska
Image credit: David Bahr
Happy Valley, Oregon
Image credit: Rodney Lough, Jr.
Snowy Meadow, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon
Image credit: Jarrod Castaign
Aurora Borealis Over Honeymoon Rock, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
Image credit: Jeff Rennicke
Climbing the Summit Pyramid Of Sahale Mountain, Washington
Image credit: Ethan Welty
Sandhill Cranes, Bosque Del Apache, New Mexico
Image credit: Diane McAllister
Peak Fall Colors, Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas
Image credit: Laura Vu
Snowy Owl, Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness Area, New York
Image credit: Scott Joshua Dere
Purple Sea Star, Olympic Wilderness, Washington
Image credit: Thomas Bancroft
Fading Sunset over the Watchman, Zion Wilderness Utah
Image credit: Greg Tucker
