Today, I received notice that my image of the flautist and the whooper swans was a honored finalist in the Windland Smith Rice "Natures Best Photography Awards" in the Outdoors Adventure category.  Over 24,000 entries were submitted from 50 countries for this competition, and only about one-half of one percent achieved "finalists" status.  In this category, there were seven honored finalists with one prize winner.  The prize winners, and a selection of the finalists, will go on to be exhibited in the Smithsonian Museum in 2014.  I was delighted to see that my mentor, educator and sometimes-photography guide, Art Wolfe, was named Photographer of the Year in this competition.  My congratulations to him, as well as to two of my comrades who also made it into the finalists round.  Nature's Best Photographer is based at 1877 Metro Center Drive, Suite C, Reston, VA  20190.  More information about this showcase competition may be found at their Web site at http://www.naturesbestphotography.com .