In 2012, The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense will recognize the 50th anniversary of the Office of Art in Embassies, through Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes, a collaborative photography project.  Please see our Best in Show section to find out about the 12 Best in Show photographers and their images.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered. Expectations have been exceeded with more than 3,200 photos submitted by active or former members of the U.S. military, Foreign Service and Civil Service, with images taken from overseas since 2000. The submission process has been completed for the Department of Defense and the Department of State's collaborative photography project Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes.

New York Times photographer Joao Silva convened a distinguished photo jury in April 2012, with finalists announced on Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2012. The Best in Show honorees have been announced in commemoration of Veteran's Day, 2012.  They were recognized in Washington D.C. in a special ceremony on November 30, 2012 by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.  

Their images, along with other selected images from the Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes submissions have been crafted into video artwork by renowned artist Lincoln Schatz which was displayed at the Department of State main lobby on November 30, 2012. The 89 finalist photographer images have been made into an exhibition which is currently on display at the Pentagon. Future exhibition locations include the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, and other prominent national and international locations.