The contest is organized by Smithsonian Magazine.

There are 6 categories:

• 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: 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.

To be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant since January 1, 2019.