Please identify which photo each comment is referencing. There is no correlation between photo and comment, so there is no way to identify which photo is being discussed. Very weird.

Faked up photos don't violate your photo contest rules? You should revise your rules.

This is so interensting. I love this picture!

That is a great photograph, this must have been so much work. This is such an insiration.

Intrigued, I read the story behind the ants. Please assure me that he has not glued these ants Into this unnatural position!

This is clearly not on. Calling this a 'unique and rare moment' is definitely guile on the photographer's part, trying to get us to believe he happened upon this scene and clicked it. It was totally posed by him. If this is ok, then freezing insects and arranging them into silly poses should also be legal. If Alex Wild had not caught him out, it is most probable that the photographer would have continued his lying-by-not-telling-the truth ways. I call that this be removed and any prize or benefit conferred be revoked.

I have to disagree with the comment that the gorilla looks sad. If anything, I see a quizzical look as though thinking, what's this? Amazingly enough, this photo kind of reminds me of my maternal grandmother! :) Love the photo! Congrats!

Love the majesty depicted in this photo, however I think if an eaglet had been below in a nest reaching upwards, the photo would have had more impact regarding the captured kill which appears to detract for the photo by becoming a main focus. Good shot, congrats!

This photo reminds me of...Ok guys...whoever can hold on to their seed the longest is the WINNER! Nice staged photo.

Please indicate the results of the Photo Contest. I have been eagerly awaiting the outcome, since I have been voting for Dave Morrow's photo. Thank you.

The gorilla photo makes me incredibly sad. Not really a shot of the "natural world"' since this sweet creature is held captive in a zoo. She looks so very, very sad, too.

It's amazing...It is hard to make it.

Beautiful

I pick this one as the best in the natural world.

Stunning! Great job!

Fantastic photography

Last night I watched the Milky Way from our farm in the Western Cape, South Africa, near a town called Citrusdal. There was no moon and I thought the sight was pretty spectacular, but nothing like this amazing photo! Wish I was there.

Amazing shot

I enjoyed seeing all the photos but number one was my favorite.

This gorilla photo is stunning. Thank you f or sharing it with those of us who can only dream of taking something like that.

baby Predator? ;)

Wonderful, but (sadly) since the start of the digital-photography era, one wonders how much influence (on the actual, unworked, image) post-processing has. Having been an amateur photographer since the late 1950's I no longer go "wow" when I see images like the one above.

All of them are beautiful...Hard work deciding which is the best...touch work for the jury.Ross

This is a beautiful and inspiring photo, it really makes you ponder life and breathtakingly allows you be in the moment.

Since this shot is an admitted set-up shot and a completely unnatural representation of ant behavior I don't see how it can be considered for honors in the category "natural world." It should be disqualified.

The picture and the moment both are beautiful.

I love this picture because of colors and because of the uplifting feeling I get as I view it. I vote for this one!

amazing!!!

Fantastic Photograph

This is so beautiful. This would be a good huge wall picture. Thank you & I hope you get 1st place.

This is really good photography. This is so beautiful. Thank you and I hope that you get 1st place.

This is so unusual. I know that red ants are strong but the really is nice to see. I also would like to know how the phtographer get this picture. I should get 1st place award. This would also be a nice picture to hang some where.Showing that little things can make it possible. Thank you and Good Luck.

every time i see photos from the smithsomiam or national geographic i long to do better in my hobbie.

I pray for you - now where it is safer than the jungle. I pray for the others who maintain their tenuous freedom in the jungle - may there always be Great Apes.

My vote goes to the picture of the two bald eagles sharing a meal. I think that getting that picture would be very hard, and to even catch that from far away is amazing. Using the Zoom lens would cut down on the light you have, and I bet it was over in a very short time. I also like the picture of the 3 girls in the Orthodox Church, fidgeting in the service. It tells a story of a place in time, inside a special tradition and upbringing that I can appreciate. The b x w was perfect film to use.

Baby appears wise already!

Digital photography has rendered astrophotography a much more popular part of a photographer's portfolio since the results are almost immediate as opposed to shooting many, many frames at different exposures on film and then discovering later that that might not have even given you a decent image. The rewards (or disappointments) with digital are immediate. The same for film requires a great deal of time and patience. Mr Morrow's image is extraordinary and skillfully accomplished.

This shot ticks all the boxes, even the two meteors are aiding the composition acting as pointers. This was a well thought out shot perfectly captured, and definately not a holiday snap.

Very hard to choose but this cannot be repeated

A transcendent image. Impeccable.

received an e-mail vote #18 ... very well done - worth a vote for sure!

Unbelievable!

is wondrous photo, truly a bit like a woman's emerald necklace-- a bit natural, but a bit contrived also. Kudos on the clarity and precision, beauty of the shot, but on other hand it's not something you'd find naturally occurring such as the shot of Mt Rainier or the caterpillar or the penguins looking lost at home... it's a bit tricky.

is wonderful, imaginative photo with incredible detail and clarity, but brings with it a certain hilarity as if the poor penguins are waiting for their boat to come in... the colors are incredibly vibrant for such "grey" landscape.

surreal-- I think Audubon would be quite jealous and give up painting for digital photography, but problem is that he made a nice living stuffing and painting dead birds, not live ones.

beautiful macro and stands out because of the strong color contrast. deserves a cover if not twenty and also extremely difficult to execute so cleanly. They don't stay still, the twig or branch moves and it's just aint easy. kudos

perfect book cover for The alchemist by Paulo Coelho, other than that, awesome

tis a pity because I canna see it...is visual problem and not fault of photographer.

wonderful fuzzy portrait, rich in detail...bias goes towards owls and mt rainier, but is bias. but this little one has eyes like a weevils, fluff like dandelion seeds and a beak to announce it is an owl.

well, it's the beer for sure and the ghosts of the Wild Rainier still roam in the heavenly skies.

The 4th photo has been at the top of my list ever since Nat Geo published it.... Truly amazing, I can stare at it every day : )

this is a awsome picture

What a incredible display of nature at it's best! Capturing this display was really amazing!

Literally, the greatest photo of Mt. Rainier I've ever seen.

I love this shot of the gorilla! He has such a pensive look in those big eyes.

Tough to choose but, thought artic birds seem great to even been down there. Even though love the gorilla so close taken

Amazing Photo!

You got my vote. This looks like a scene from a movie. Good portrait type framing

It is time for bed here at midnight; what a reflection for been tucked in! Fantast! We must never take Our Planet for grantic. ellenic

every time we advance the picture, the page moves and th picture drops off and the picture is then obscured below the monitor. C'mon, it's 2013; time to solve these problems. Also this comment box is partly obscured by "most popular" box. C'mon, it's 2013; time to solve these problems.

This if stunning. I have never seen anything like that before.Good composition and form. Ines

Fabulous photograph,it takes a lot of dedication to set up and take a photograph like this. Congratulations

Beautiful pictures :-)

I am so impressed with your pictures, David , good luck and I will continue to vote for you .....Andrew's mom

Super! Super! Super!

This is a truly beautiful image--thanks for saving it for all to see! My #1 choice.

You may have intended to do a traditional studio portrait of an unususl studio, but you went far beyond that. It's unusual, but it is art! Delightful.

Stunning in every sense

Mr Holland has created an Auduban style masterpiece with this marvelous photo. It's a once in a lifetime event.DAL

i voted for the one i liked best,but was unable to find any instructions if able to vote multiple choices so i left it at one.many striking photo...

Nature's wonder.

First choice is the young bird, wings spread, calling for food. The feathers and the leaf fronds echo each other and the color is just right. Second is the illuminated ice geyser. Thank you for showing us this beauty.

Very nice !!

Is there any way to contact the photographers? I am interested in inquiring about the possibility of purchasing several of these photos.

Outstanding imagery by all, but this captures the essence of this wonderful creature of this wonderful earth. Thank You Vanessa

That is clearly Mt. St. Helens. Mt. Rainier hasn't exploded yet, and still has a top half.

WOW! Fantastic photo, and what amazing timing to take this very special event!

When I first saw the picture, yes I thought the volcano was erupting. Exhilerating picture of something I will never see.

How can you choose one photo over another when all the photos are so outstanding!

What a beautiful moment! Nature is amazing.

Amazing photo. Clealrly capturing he magnificence of the beast, making it very difficult to take your eyes off him.

It seems that there are images here that are apparently manipulated and Photoshopped.

#16

Stupendous! My heart caught when I saw this.

This may be THE best, most beautiful and most interesting and more informative photo of an eclipse I've ever seen. Bravo! Well done, very well done.

What humanity in the eyes of this gorilla !

I vote for the gorilla Vanessa Bartlett should win

Awesome! The description does not let on what sort of exposure settings were used. The fact that the mountains are rock-steady indicates no tracking mount was deployed. There's no sign of any star trails so a relatively fast shutter speed must have been used. It's the kind of image that involves the viewer with it's sheer visual impact and poses a thousand questions in addition.

I love this photo. I live in Washington and when I see this mountain on a clear day like today I am in awe. I hope someday to be able to be able to take photos like this.

Hmmmmmm, looks like this might be staged, rather than natural behavior: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/compound-eye/2013/03/08/a-fake-makes-it-to-the-smithsonians-photo-contest-finalists/

This is America

SUPER!

Love this photo of the eclipse!!

Great picture !!!

Beautifully done

How does one submit an entry?

Belleza!!

Is that Absolom from Alice in Wonerland?

Expectacular. La naturaleza es maravillosa

What a beautiful shot! Takes a lot of patience to be rewarded with such a first class image

this photo is very nice.

Absolutely stunning! Love this amazing photo of American bald eagles in the wild!

Congratulations Bjorn, From two "Birders", my wife Tammi & I, we wish you continued success!!! An exquisite photograph in ethereal shades of my favorite color!!! Your description proves that photographers must rely upon the keeness of their other senses(in this case "hearing"), as well as sight, to "capture" such very special images capable of and reasonably being classified as "Fine Art"!!! Timothy A. Connard Matthew 19:26

Very nice shoot natural and power

Awesome and imspiring! Awestruck by the beauty; evokes a magical wondrous show of nature.

Life survives

Fantastic!

This image is stunning and dreamlike. Nature at its most awesome!

Beautiful!!

Beautiful!!

Sublime!!

My vote for the READERS' CHOICE AWARD is Ms. Vanessa Bartletts' wonderful photo of the gorilla taken at the New York Citys' BRONX ZOO. Just great, captures the gorilla just right! Thanks

this is a wonderful photo of a magnificent creature. Thanks for sharing.

Neal, This is just beautiful! Thank you for sharing the world with all of us, through your eyes, it has been like traveling the world through your photographs, when I can't actually be there and do it myself right now, your beautiful pictures make me feel that one day, some day, maybe I will! Thank you Neal!!

Fantastic!!!

Amazing!!!

It is unique and rare, indeed. Marvelous shot!! Good luck and all the best to you..

Wonderful photos!

SO Beautiful...I Like it...

Visually the most epic photo I have ever seen!! Truly beautiful, I feel like I'm right there watching. Amazing!!!

Breathtaking; My picture of choice. There are some great photos here but this has Smithsonian written all over it.

Una de las fotos mas increibles que he visto en mi vida.