2014 Sony World Photography Awards: Student Focus finalists revealed

• Emerging photography talent recognised and rewarded
• Ten students compete for €35,000 worth of Sony photography equipment
• Images available for publication at press.worldphoto.org

18 February: The ten finalists for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Student Focus competition are announced today by the World Photography Organisation.

Student Focus is one of the largest international programmes for photography students. Involving 230 educational institutions worldwide, its aim is to support and inspire the future generation of photographers.

It provides a professional network of contacts and offers a variety of competitions, tutorials and opportunities to help talented emerging photographers to turn professional. Many of previous finalists of the Student Focus competition are now working regularly in the photography industry.

Students worldwide were asked to submit a single image to the brief “Tomorrow’s News”. The response was wide-ranging and a jury of industry experts selected ten finalists.

The finalists are:

• Argentina – Nadia Navarro, Al Aire
• Bangladesh - Rahul Talukder, Pathshala South Asia Media Institute
• China - Li Dandan, Nanjing University of the Arts
• Denmark – Tor Birk Trads, Danish School of Media
• New Zealand - Chloe Riddell, University of Auckland
• Romania - Sebastian Vacariuc, Babes-Bolyai University
• South Africa – Russell Bruns, Rhodes University
• South Africa – Tara Mette, Stellenbosch Academy of Design & Photography
• United Kingdom – Scarlet Evans, Central St Martins
• USA - Jordan VanSise, Marylhurst University

All ten finalists have now been set a second brief and asked to submit a series of images under the title “Self-portraits”. The work is to be shot using the latest full frame camera from Sony – the α7 – given to each finalist as part of their prize.

The resulting images of all finalists will be shown as part of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House, London from 1-18 May and published in the 2014 edition of the annual Sony World Photography Awards book.

From this work, the Student Focus judges will choose one overall student winner who will be announced at the Sony World Photography Awards gala ceremony in London on 30 April.

All ten finalists, and their tutors, will be flown to London to attend the ceremony and to discover the recipient of the 2014 Student Focus Photographer of the Year title. This student will receive €35,000 worth of Sony photographic equipment for their university.