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

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.

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.

• Images from the shortlist are available to download at press.worldphoto.org or via Image.net
• Please note, only Open and Youth images can be used on social media platforms and all photographs must have credits overlaid
• If using on Twitter please #SWPA and tag @WorldPhotoOrg

For further information please contact:

Jill Cotton, Senior Press Manager, World Photography Organisation

+44 (0) 20 7886 3043/ jill@worldphoto.org

Kristine Bjørge, PR Manager, World Photography Organisation

+44 (0) 20 7886 3049 / kristine@worldphoto.org