Shortlist revealed for Sony World Photography awards, the world’s biggest photography competition

Mario Cabral, shortlist “Open Panorama” The Paepalanthus is a rare wildflower found only in some parts of Cerrado Vegetation (Brazilian savanah). I used painted light in the foreground and waited for the best time to capture the arc of the Milky Way.
Professional, Open and Youth competitions
Record number of entries – 173,444 from 171 countries, 24% increase on 2014
Shortlisted images to be shown at Somerset House, London 24 April – 10 May
Overall winners revealed 23 April
London, 24 February: The 2015 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards, the world’s biggest photography competition, today announces the shortlists for its Professional, Open and Youth categories.
Recognising and rewarding the world’s best contemporary photography from the last year, the 2015 competition received the highest number of entries in its eight year history – 173,444 images from 171 countries – and a 24% increase on 2014.
- Panorama of Reine (Lofoten) made from three frames. Wojciech Kruczynskik, Poland Shortlist “Open Panoramic”
- TITLE: DISCIPLINE. Camels salt caravans in the Afar Danakil desert on a 2000 year old road. Tarek Touma, Lebanon. Shortlist Open “Split Second”
- TITLE: MIRROR OF NATURE. Pintail Grouse in desert south of Iran. Seyed Babak Musazi, Iran. Shortlist, Open “Nature and Wildlife”
- TITLE: THE FISHERMAN OF STARS. Pierumberto Pampanin, Italy. Shortlist, Open “Panoramic”
- TITLE: PRAY. Muhammad Berkati, Indonesia. Shortlist Open “Arts and Culture”
- TITLE: SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE. Mohammad Reza, Domiri Ganji, Iran. Shortlist, Open “Panoramic”
- TITLE: CITY THROUGH THE COLOURS (at the Baltic Centre For Contemporary Art in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. Goran Erfani, Iran. Shortlist, Open “Architecture”
- Gina Alderson, Australia, Shortlist Open “Architecture”
- TITLE: BLACK KAALI. Dussehra Hindu Annual Celebration. Elangovan Subrmanian, India, Shortlist Open “Arts and Culture”
- TITLE: TAKANAKUY. A traditional event to settle disputes between people of different districts in Lima, Peru. David Martin, Peru, Shortlist Open “Arts and Culture”
- Cesar March, Spain. Shortlist Open “Architecture”
- TITLE: SCHOOLYARD. Armin Appel, Germany. Shortlist “Open Architecture”
- TITLE: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. Kimmo Metsaranta, Finland. Shortlist “Still Life”
- TITLE: ICH BIN WALDVIERTEL. Carla Kogelman, The Netherlands. Shortlist, “People”
- TITLE: VACATION. Vasilis Ntamplis, Greece. Shortlist, “Travel PR”
- TITLE: THE LAST SAMURAI. Brent Stirton, South Africa, Shortlist “Professional Arts, Culture”
- TITLE: UKRAINE KIEV, EUROMAIDAN. Vladyslav Muslienko, Ukraine, Shortlist “Professional Current Affairs”
- Valery Melnikov, Russia. Shortlist “Professional Current Affairs”
- TITLE: LIBERIA BATTLES SPREADING EBOLA. John Moore, United States. Shortlist “Professional Current Affairs”
- SWEAT AND BLOOD. Marcin Klocek, Poland. Shortlist “Sport”
- One of traditional attraction in Indonesia Culture called Bujang Ganong. He jumped into the circle of fire. Aprison Aprison, Indonesia Shortlist Open “Arts and Culture”
- Lione Bakker, Netherlands Shortlist Open “Enhanced”
- Harfian Herdi, Indonesia. Shortlist” Open Nature and Wildlife”
- Antoine Weisk, Switzerland. SHORTLIST Open “Nature and Wildlife”
- Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone by Jassen Todorov, America. Shortlist Open “Nature and Wildlife”
- Simon Morris, United Kingdom. A Young Nenets boy plays in -40 degrees on Yamal in the Winter in Siberia.
- Panom_Archarit, Thailand Shortlisted Open “Split Second”
- Mario Cabral, shortlist “Open Panorama” The Paepalanthus is a rare wildflower found only in some parts of Cerrado Vegetation (Brazilian savanah). I used painted light in the foreground and waited for the best time to capture the arc of the Milky Way.
- Sumatran Tiger Jump by Lessy Sebastian (Split Second Category)
The judging, which is done anonymously by a panel of experts from the World Photographic Academy, has uncovered inspiring, arresting and thought-provoking work by a wide range of professional photographers and enthusiasts from around the world. See full list of judges and bios here.
Across the 13 Professional, 10 Open and 3 Youth categories the judges were refreshed by the bold approach of the shortlisted photographers to familiar topics and the ability of these photographers to surprise the judges with images and stories they have not previously seen.
Speaking about the shortlisted images, Astrid Merget Motsenigos, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation and organiser of the awards said:
“The sole purpose of the Sony World Photography Awards is to celebrate and appreciate the talented artists working in the photographic industry. Once again, the shortlist demonstrates the vibrancy, diversity and skill of both today’s established photographers and, as importantly, the growing army of citizen photographers for whom the awards offer unpreceded exposure and opportunity.
“The record number of entries gave our expert panel of judges a monumental task but we are incredibly proud to present to you a shortlist which truly showcases some of the world’s best photography.”
The shortlisted photographers for all categories are listed below and names included are both new and familiar to the competition. Those recognised again by the awards include: Peter Franck (Germany); Donald Webber (Canada); Amit Madheshiya (India); Brent Stirton (South Africa); Simon Norfolk (UK), Fan Li (China) and Massimo Siragusa (Italy). New names include Julia Fullerton-Batten (UK) and Sebastian Gil Miranda (France).
Those in the awards’ Professional categories will now compete for a $25,000 prize and the coveted L’Iris d’Or/ Photographer of the Year title. The recipient, along with the winners of the Professional categories, overall Youth and Student winners plus the Open Photographer of the Year, who receives a $5,000 prize, will all be announced at the Sony World Photography Awards Gala Ceremony on Thursday 23 April. All winners will receive the latest digital imaging equipment from Sony.
The winning and shortlisted images will go on show at Somerset House, London from 24 April – 10 May and published in the 2015 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book. The images will be printed by theprintspace, our Official Exhibition Printer. Tickets can be booked at www.worldphoto.org/2015exhibition . The exhibition will also include an intimate display of still images, books and films by Elliott Erwitt, recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award.
