Dresher Resident Finalist in Smithsonian Photo Contest

Upper Dublin has representation in the 9th Annual Smithsonian magazine photo contest, after a photograph from Dresher resident Peter Jacobson was one of 50 submissions from around the world selected into the competition's final round.

The winning photograph will be decided by an online poll, with voting open now through March 30th.

Jacobson's photo, captioned "dog watching tourists on the street," depicts exactly that, as a pooch watches longingly from an open window frame. A second window to the left contains the Alaskan state flag, which matches a description of the picture as being taken in Ketchikan, Alaska in 2009.

Jacobson further told the story of the photograph in an interview with Patch.

"My family and I were on a cruise to Alaska, and Ketchikan is a small fishing town now overrun by tourists," Jacobson said. "There I am walking down the streets and there's this dog very peacefully watching the thousands of tourists arrive."

Jacobson identifies himself as an amateur photographer and says he was lucky to nab the shot.

"The picture came out nicely because there happened to be an American and Alaskan flag in the windows. It was just a very cool shot," Jacobson said.

The Dresher resident, who is also a vice president at URS Corporation and sits on the township Environmental Protection Advisory Board, says the photo was picked by the Smithsonian as one of ten "Americana" finalists from 60,000 submissions.

Now, the Americana category has been combined with other finalists for the overall "Reader's Choice" competition. However, Jacobson says he's happy just to be selected.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have this picture in amongst the other great photos," Jacobson said. "It's the recognition or opportunity of a lifetime to have somebody notice your picture."

Click here to see the entire gallery and cast your vote.