In what has become an annually awaited photo-op in camera viewfinders and web browsers everywhere, Smithsonian has just announced the finalists in its 11th annual photography contest. In a contest that spanned across 132 countries and well over 50,000 entries, Smithsonian has gotten the finalists down to sixty photos in six categories: The Natural World, Travel, People, Americana, Altered Images and the newly added category for Mobile photos. Enter your own vote for the Reader’s Choice here. Or enter your own photo for the 12th annual contest anytime between May 6th and May 31st.

Peruse some of the world’s most beautiful images below…