Capturing the Moment: Photographs by the Smithsonian Community

We are avid museum goers. I snapped this family portrait in the reflection of an Anish Kapoor sculpture at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. Besides the obvious fun-house quality to play with as you stand there, the piece also engages you with an acoustic effect.

A close-up of sun-bleached elk antlers, taken in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Sideling Hill Overlook in Cumberland, MD. In the photograph there is a curving road that cuts between two mountains. This photo was a long exposure that was taken at sunset. The long exposure caught the lights from the passing cars headlights and taillights which made beautiful ribbons of light that run along the road.

"Artist Rebecca Rose’s canvas can sing, laugh, scream and dance, as her canvas is living art! Rose aims to explore and expand the perceptions and boundaries of the ancient and alluring art form of body painting, as her work is a fusion of art; from traditional canvas backgrounds, to dance, found objects and photography."

The image illustrates the contrast of nature and man-made. The contrast of light and dark, angles and shapes. It also illustrates a moment, on a winter day, when one stops, to look and admire the contrasts and connections of nature and architecture.

Changdeokgung Palace, situated at the foot of a Seoul mountain range, features tiled hipped roofs with a corbelled multi-bracket system and ornamental carvings and painting.

On Lake Orta in the Italian Piedmont region, a garden gate on San Giulio Island captures the imagination

While walking around Cuba, this setting captured the spirit of a community. It shows the pride of the taxi driver as he displays the Cuban flag on his motorcycle is three different ways. It shows a community that uses all available resources as evident by the many different railings and gates. The well kept house plants in the window sill, show someone who cares about their environment, someone wanting a spot of green in their city-scape. And the classic American car captures the political turmoil that is Cuba.

Luna rescued me on April 1, 2020. She had been hit by a car and was lying in the middle of the road when I found her. Since then, she has brought great joy into our home, despite the pandemic. This photo, taken on April 14, demonstrates this joy. She found great delight in chasing her shadow across the kitchen floor.

Our calico cat Cardamom peeks out from under the television

Masked accordion players in the Schloss Garten in Vienna, Austria

Scarlett the Plott hound dramatically lounging on the couch while 'Mom and Dad' telework wishing 2020 would be over and her people would give her some peace.

Two zebras looking at the photographer- near Amboseli National Park, Kenya.

The view from the Austin Creek State Recreation Area in Sonoma County, CA

An adolescent bull African Elephant in Central Kenya. The picture captures his boisterous attitude, as he squares up to another young elephant out of shot.

Egret having a frog for lunch at Alligator River Wildlife Refuge

This is my husband and my son enjoying the incredibly blue water and blue skies of Turks and Caicos' Grace Bay beach.

A protester sits on the top of a traffic light, below the new sign “Black Lives Matter Plaza”. He looks towards the White House, or maybe beyond it.

Local Alexandria neighborhood shows overwhelming support to encourage a local, woman-owned business to reopen after experiencing harassment for asking a customer to wear a mask.

A kite circles a late spring moon over a farm in Garrett County, Maryland.

My three nieces asleep in the backseat of my mom's car.

Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, one of the forefathers of Conservation Biology, is an icon and represents Smithsonian excellence in using science to solve nature's challenges.

As busy as it gets during the Tokyo’ biggest firework festival – Sumidagawa. The camera captures a calm face in the hustle.

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III speaks to an audience at the SFJazz Center about the challenges of establishing the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

This is a full scale Saturn V rocket projected onto the Washington Monument in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.

A powerful message by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela in the powerful setting of the Contemplation Court at NMAAHC.

A photograph of the Smithsonian Institution building, The Castle.

Girl enjoying the colors reflection of the prism window at the National Museum of the American Indian. These reflection changes its shape all year around depends on where the sun is located.

This piece was selected by the Jurors to be "Best in Show." 

Snails and a bumblebee explore three tulips on slate.

This is a particularly large species of palm weevil, found in South East Asia. The 3 views of this specimen of Macrocheirus is one of a large series of photographs documenting the taxonomic group. The photograph will be published in a monographic revision of the subfamily Dryophthorinae.

Romeo, a labrador retriever, naps in the foyer at the Red Tree House guesthouse in La Condesa, Mexico City. A día de muertos altar covered in marigolds and photos of ancestors sits to the side.

Waiting, side of the road, the Homer Spit, Alaska, July 2019.