With their eyes nearly front and center, owls don’t benefit much from peripheral vision, but their heads can rotate 135 degrees in any direction, giving them a great field of view.

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See 15 Stunning Photos of Superb Owls to Kick Off This Year’s Super Bowl Weekend

These snapshots of the majestic bird in flight and in trees will leave your soul soaring

Penguins are attentive parents, with both males and females sharing the work. Here, displaying a common practice, each partner faces the other with a bowed head.

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See 15 Adorable Photos of Playful, Picture-Perfect Penguins

These images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest show just why penguins have waddled into our hearts

A hiker soaks up the scenery as the sun sets in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park in Sydney.

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Take a Journey Down Under With These Amazing Photos of Australia

From the outback to the coasts, see 15 images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

The snow-capped Rockies glow bright white in the snow.

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See the Splendor of the Majestic Rocky Mountains

View 15 awe-inspiring images of this range from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Whether you “win” or “lose” a snowball fight, you’re probably walking away with a frosty face full of flakes.

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Walk Through a Wintry Wonderland of Seasonal Fun With These 15 Photos

Get into the winter spirit with these images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

A young girl puckers up to plant a kiss on a plastic Santa.  

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Ho, Ho, Ho! 15 Festive Photos of Santa Claus to Get You Into the Christmas Spirit

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and ol’ St. Nick is spreading holiday cheer for all to hear

A horse at the Minnesota State Fair receives attention and affection from visitors.

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These 15 Majestic Photos Show Just Why Humans Adore Horses

To commemorate the National Day of the Horse, see herds of equine images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

An annual event for more than 50 years, the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival has grown to become the largest in the United States.

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Brighten Your Day With These 15 Photos of Beautiful Balloons From Around the World

Lift your spirits with these airy images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Reykjavik Domestic Airport is located just a mile from the city center, so when planes fly in and out, passengers get a close view of buildings below. 

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Take Flight With These 15 Awe-Inspiring Aviation Images

See airplanes of all sizes, shapes and colors from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

At dawn, a woman and her dog walk along a serene shore in the Corona Del Mar area of Newport Beach as gentle waves greet them.

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See 15 Stunning Photos of California That Showcase the Golden State’s Majestic Beauty

California offers lovely beaches, forests, deserts, mountains and more!

A polar bear mother and her clingy, but cute, cubs are photographed along the Hudson Bay.

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Celebrate the Beloved Yet Threatened Polar Bear With These 15 Photos

These amazing images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest show the Arctic animals at their fierce but adorable best

A couple visits a cemetery during Day of the Dead, against the backdrop of storm clouds.

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Celebrate Day of the Dead With These 15 Scenes of Festivities and Remembrance

These images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest show how communities in Mexico and beyond mark Día de los Muertos.

The Ofaerufoss waterfall is part of the Nyrdri-Ofaera River, meaning the “impassable northern river.” The river flows into Eldgja, or the “Canyon of Fire.”  

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Go Chasing Waterfalls With These 15 Awe-Inspiring Images

See photographs of the beautiful natural wonders from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

A Grass Dance is a common sight during a powwow, part of many Native American traditions, usually performed by one of the Warrior dancers in the troupe.

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Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day With 20 Beautiful Photos That Capture the Richness of Native Culture

The diversity of the Native American experience is honored by the newly christened federal holiday

A cyclist rides past a colorful mural, featuring the Cuban flag and an image of Guevara.  

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See 14 Photos of the Beauty of Cuba Through Its Striking Shoreline and Buzzing Streets

These images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest capture quintessentially Cuban scenes

Seemingly still waters wind through colorful canopies displaying warm autumn hues on a hazy September morning.

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See 24 Beautiful Photos of Fall Foliage in Its Most Vibrant Colors

These highlights from the Smithsonian Photo Contest celebrate the autumn

Jellyfish are among the planet’s simplest creatures, made up of about 95 percent water and lacking brains, spines, blood or hearts.

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Delight in These 15 Photos That Capture the Exotic Undersea Lives of Jellyfish

Despite their often dangerous stings, these creatures create serene scenes as they float through the deep sea

No room for cars, it’s much easier to traverse the narrow streets on islands near Venice by bicycle

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See 15 Remarkable Photos That Will Make You Fall in Love With Italy

These shots from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest show why it’s one of the most-visited nations on earth

With a white frame around its eye and green feathers, this Swinhoe’s white-eye is easily camouflaged when flying from flower to flower.

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See 15 Amazing Photos of Beautiful Birds

These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images celebrate our feathered friends

Boats, lights and fog help create a serene nighttime scene in Rio de Janeiro.

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Bask in the Beauty of Brazil With These 15 Stunning Photographs

These selections from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images capture this South American paradise

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