1.This pulse-pounding picture of cheetah cubs hunting a fawn in Tanzania that has you rooting for the cats one moment and the fawn the next:
2.This awe-inspiring photograph of the Manhattan Bridge in fog that finds tranquility in the city that never sleeps:
3.This astonishing shot of a snake swallowing a frog in the rain in Costa Rica that displays beauty can even be found in death:
4.This bright, cheery shot of Palouse, Washington that proves you don't always need a rain jacket in the Pacific Northwest:
5.This truly insane shot capturing a wave breaking off the coast of Sydney, Australia that makes you feel smaller than you ever have:
6.This astounding shot of the Ba Na Cable Car emerging from the fog in Vietnam displaying how the interaction of mankind and Mother Earth can be astonishing:
7.This black and white shot that conveys the solitude of the White House:
8.This impressive photo that captures the intense geography of the National Library of China in Beijing:
9.This powerful shot of a young Mursi tribe member holding an AK-47 in Ethiopia:
10.This eerie shot of mobula rays swimming off the coast of Baja California, proving that nothing is the same under water:
11.This breathtaking picture of hikers behind the Hollywood Sign in California that will remind you of the power of the human eye:
12.This tranquil shot of a man canoeing on a lake in Minnesota, which will make you want to be alone this very instant:
13.This vivid picture of two Vietnamese women sewing a fishing net, conveying the amazing things people can do with their hands:
14.This eye-catching photograph of a female golden silk orb-weaver on her web in Hong Kong that proves the stuff of nightmares also can be striking in their beauty:
15.And finally, this spectacular shot of the Titcomb Basin in Wyoming that will make you want to quit your job to go hiking RIGHT NOW:
Be sure to check out the Smithsonian Magazine's site where you can view all 60 finalists and vote for the Reader's Choice winner!
