Smithsonian.com

All finalists show notable insight and unique talent to capture special moments. However, the photo entitles "A Rural Farmhouse" by Marc Tkatch is more like a naturalist painting then a photo. It speaks of pastoral beauty, simplicity, and rare silence. Therefore, it is rare and it is my choice for BEST PHOTO among the 10 finalists posted. Thanks. C. J. Poran

I like the Photo number 8 as first place: A farmhouse" by Marc Tkatch Thanks. David

I vote for this to be first place. Great photo!

I vote for Marc Tkatch's "Rural Farmhouse" from Chesterton, MD; it's the best!

Picture #8 is awesome.. Looks more like a painting than a photo. I would hang it on my wall anytime. I choose #8 as the best photo. JC

I love when a photographer perfectly captures an old, red barn or a rustic farmhouse. This is an example of just that - a picture that evokes simpler times, natural beauty, and is pleasing to the eye simply by the colors and crisp lines, the overall texture of the picture. This should take first place in my book. I would hang something like this on my wall as a work of art. I'd like to see more by this artist.

Chaotic confusion is something that is almost commonplace in individuals lives these days...whenever I can look upon something in this world that gives me a moment of pause or peace from the hectic world we live in I can only think of one word to describe my feelings....grateful. Thanks to the artist for a bit of peace.

Great photo, sky, farmhouse, fields... beautiful

I like the photo by Marc Thach the best--so beautiful!!

I loved it. I grew up in the midwest and spent lots of time on farms. He made me feel as though I was back 40 years--thanks Marc for doing that.

Amazing!

I loved it too, but never saw the midwest in as beautiful a light as that photo. Perfect capture.

Nature in its splender, life just suggested, balance of the horizontal and vertical lines = serinity, contrast with the uncertain shapes of the clouds and of the light variances in the upper part of this "naturalist painting". Suggests opposition between was is certain and what is uncertain.

This is a very compelling photograph due to the tension between the tranquility of the horizontals in the foreground and the ominous gathering of clouds in the background. There is a delicate balance here between the apparent stability and timelessness of the farm image and a sense that change is imminent: the leafless trees and lack of snow indicate that the season is neither summer nor winter - rather a season of progression: spring or fall.

Great composition.

I love this picture!

very peaceful but looks like a storm is brewing. like life, always something happening.

Draws viewer in. Captures quite, solitude and isolation of farm life. Beautiful.

Mark Tkach rocks! This photograph has beautiful balance, color, simplicity and serenity.

This is a photo of contrasts, beautifully composed. Presents starkness and beauty, simplicity yet a complexity, verticals and horizontals, color contrasts yet a harmony, a haunting stillness yet the clouds' near-obvious motion. I have several other favorites but this living painting photo got my vote. Bill E.

Quite simply a beautiful photograph. The stark contrast of the white house with the dark trees and blue sky is truely arresting.

If my husband, a photographer, was alive, he would know the words to describe the beauty of this photograph. In my words, 'Spectacular'! I think this artist has a gift.

Compositon is key: vertical reach of the trees, horizontal sweep of the plain, riccoco clouds, and asymmetry of the barn/farmhouse placement. Nicely done.

I like "A Rural Farmhouse" the best by far.

perfectly balanced, the best photo in the lot.

I can picture myself, sitting in that house. I can smell tha earth, and hear the wind in the trees. There is a pie in the oven and I am waiting for my husband to come home from a day of work in the fields. Art should always make you feel.

Beautiful balance. I love the contrast of the bare trees and the golden field. One lone tree in the forefront. This takes me to a comforting place.

Being born and raised in the south and doing a lot of traveling in these towns, believe me it is wonderful what the eye has capture on film. There is nothing more ralaxing and beautiful than this photo, makes you want to get in the car and drive until you find it, stop,look and truly appreciate the beauty of the farm house and what it represents to many.

This is easily the best photo in the bunch. When I look at the colors and the beautiful sweet simplicity, it feels like a home for the heart, mind, and spirit. Such a peaceful retreat to capture with a camera and an excellent artist's touch. I love it. Great job, Marc!

Marc's photo is far from being a photo. It is a piece of the "now" trapped in the lense of the camera!! Outstanding...if you look close enough you can see the clouds move.

Unreal. And totally mesmerizing. Great Job!