The 50th Anniversary Wilderness Photography Contest

Last fall, we promised to keep you updated on news relating to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.We're happy to report that one special project is underway: a wilderness photography contest.

The competition will be coordinated by Nature's Best Photography, which runs an annual contest called the Windland Smith Rice International Awards. Children, amateurs, and professionals are encouraged to submit images before the Sept. 3 deadline and will be judged separately.

Thirty to 40 photos will be selected from four categories: scenic landscape, wildlife, people in wilderness, and most inspirational moment. Winning entries will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, beginning in the fall of 2014.

The Smithsonian exhibit will showcase the diversity of the National Wilderness Preservation System, so gather your photos of rugged peaks, ancient forests, desert wildflowers, red rock canyons, and more.