Mexican photographer Dinorah Graue Obscura was taking pictures of crested caracaras flying in Texas when she found two of them sitting together on a branch. © Dinorah Graue Obscura, Mexico, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards Two crested caracaras sit on a branch in nearly identical poses. “Mighty Pair” by Dinorah Graue Obscura, Winner (Standout pictures from all the categories can be seen here.) After viewing these awe-inspiring images, cast a vote for the Reader’s Choice award in Smithsonian magazine’s own annual photo contest. Here are the stunning animal and nature photos commended in the open competition’s natural world and wildlife category. “They covered the profound and ongoing discussions around narrative truth and agency in art, as well as wider environmental, political and societal viewpoints.” “Finding original and different viewpoints photographically is challenging-but ever more rewarding,” Mike Trow, chair of the jury that judged the entries, said in a statement when the contest’s professional winners were announced.

From all of these subjects, one winner will be crowned on April 13. The contest accepted photos that fit under ten wide umbrellas: architecture, creative, landscape, lifestyle, motion, natural world and wildlife, object, portraiture, street photography and travel. Of the 415,000 total entries, which also included images in the youth and professional categories, the open awards received 200,000. On Tuesday, the World Photography Organization announced the shortlist and winners in the open competition, which allowed submissions from people of all ages and experience levels.

This year’s winning photographers captured creatures in Svalbard, Norway Bangladesh Brazil and the depths of the Indo-Pacific. From a playful-looking stoat to a mantis shrimp guarding its eggs, the animal subjects in the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards are captivating.

Ania tuzel photography