CURRENT ISSUE

March 2012

Features

Shadow of the Titanic

On the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, a spellbinding new book focuses on the dark tales of the survivors—and our endless fascination with history's most glorious shipwreck

Andrew Wilson

Optical Illusion

A New Explanation For The Disaster

They Missed the Boat

The notable people planning to sail on the Titanic included a world-famous novelist, a radio pioneer and America's biggest tycoons

Greg Daugherty

One-Step Wonder

Edwin Land's camera perfected the art of instant gratification

Owen Edwards

The Unfortunate Traveler by Billy Collins

Smithsonian's poetry consultant writes a poem specially for the photography issue

Billy Collins

Shooting Stars: William Coupon presents Delphine Diaw Diallo

Diallo's photos combine pop culture and African roots with an American vernacular

William Coupon

Shooting Stars: David Burnett presents Sirio Magnabosco

According to the acclaimed photojournalist, Magnabosco’s work reminds you why you liked photography in the first place

David Burnett

Shooting Stars: Donna Ferrato presents Tomeu Coll

The young photographer makes far-flung expeditions to capture life at the outer reaches of the world

Donna Ferrato

Shooting Stars: Martin Parr presents Robin Maddock

Maddock’s views and snatches of life are both surreal and individual

Martin Parr

Shooting Stars: Mary Ellen Mark presents José Antonio Martínez

At first just an amateur, Martinez devoted his life to mastering the art of photography

Mary Ellen Mark

Shooting Stars: Joel Meyerowitz presents Jonathan Smith

The landscape work of Jonathan Smith embraces the art of photographic masters of the past

Joel Meyerowitz

Shooting Stars: Sylvia Plachy presents Pilar Belmonte

Belmonte found her personal voice as a photographer during a time of family crisis

Sylvia Plachy

Shooting Stars: Bruce Weber presents Jeremy Everett

The famed fashion photographer shares one artist’s work with the world

Bruce Weber

Shooting Stars: Cindy Sherman presents Lisa K. Blatt

There is a simple majestic beauty to Blatt’s nature photography, says the heralded portraitist

Cindy Sherman

Shooting Stars: Reza presents Farzana Wahidy

The 27-year-old photographer is telling the story of her native Afghanistan from the inside

Reza

Shooting Stars: Albert Watson presents Keith Coleman

Coleman’s photographs unveil the fruits that come from being obsessed with one’s work

Albert Watson

Shooting Stars: Steve Winter presents Chris Linder

Linder’s science photography is a throwback to the age of expeditions and adventure

Steve Winter

Departments

Contributors

Smithsonian magazine

From the Editor

Fateful Encounters

The Titanic and the elusive nature of perception

Letters to the Editor

The Conversation

Readers Respond to the January Issue

Smithsonian magazine

From the Secretary

Dream Building

Profile

A Wilderness Of Errol

Filmmaker Errol Morris has become America's most surprising and provocative public intellectual

Science

Hive Mind

The world's leading expert on bee behavior discovers the secrets of decision-making in a swarm

Carl Zimmer

Food + Culture

Moveable Feasts

Tracing America's food truck revolution back to its L.A. roots

Jonathan Gold

Perception

The renowned author of A Natural History of the Senses visits Florida's Morikami Japanese Gardens to examine the astonishing wealth of human perception

Diane Ackerman

Visualize This

Perception

Speaking American

Hey, snollygosters: After half a century of studying jib-jabbing, linguists have just finished the nation's most ambitious dictionary of regional dialects

Perception

Sweat and Tears

Yes, scientists say, your airborne compounds send signals about your moods, your sexual orientation and even your genetic makeup

Sarah Everts

Perception

Books