United Kingdom National Award winner revealed for world’s biggest photography competition - the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards

• Best single image taken by a British photographer in the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards
• Winning images exhibited at Somerset House, London, 22nd April – 8th May
• Images available for publication at press.worldphoto.org

British photographer Tino Solomon from London is today named as the winner of the United Kingdom National Award, part of world’s biggest photography competition, the Sony World Photography Awards.

Solomon’s winning image “The Door to Hell” was chosen as the single best photograph taken by a British photographer entered into any of the awards’ ten Open categories.

Solomon, a doctor and amateur photographer based in London, has won a Sony ILCE-7M2K. In addition, the winning image will be part of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London from 22nd April - 8th May and will be published in the annual Sony World Photography Awards book. The exhibition will also include the winning and shortlisted images of Professional, Open and Youth competitions alongside the first major European exhibition of the artistic duo andfine art photographers RongRong & inri (China/Japan), recipients of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize at the awards.

Talking about his winning image, Solomon comments: "The image captures the milky way galaxy that rises over the Darwaza crater in the Karakum desert, northwest Turkmenistan. Two explorers peer into its fiery depths, known by the local Turkmen as the 'door to hell'. In 1971 Soviet scientists discovered an underground cavern with gas accumulation. It was set on fire to avoid a toxic release into nearby villages and in the hope it would burn out within days to, yet 45 years later, it continues to burn. Often described as the world's most beautiful ecological disaster."

Talking about his win, Solomon continues: “I am honoured to be recognized by the Sony World Photography Awards, which I have followed for many years and contributed to my passion in photographing the lesser seen areas of the world."

Runner up positions for United Kingdom National Award were given to:

• 2nd place - Mike Odwyer for his image titled ‘Bandsmen from above’
• 3rd place - Stuart Cripps for his image titled ‘The Four Legged Traveller’

The National Awards programme honours and rewards the best single image taken by a local photographer and runs in 60 countries across the world from Argentina to Australia. It is open to photographers of all abilities.

The winners of all 60 National Awards were announced today. To see all the winning images please go to www.worldphoto.orgThe Sony World Photography Awards rewards and recognises the world’s best contemporary photography from the last year. Attracting photographers of all abilities, the awards incorporate four competitions: Professional; Open; Youth and Student. More information about the awards can be found at www.worldphoto.org

• Images from the shortlist are available to download at press.worldphoto.org
• If using on social media please #SWPA and tag @WorldPhotoOrg

For more information, please contact the Sony PR team at Hope&Glory PR on sony@hopeandglorypr.com / 020 7566 9747

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Sony World Photography Awards forthcoming announcements

• 29th March – Open and Youth category winners announced
• 21st April – Professional/Open/Student/Youth Photographers of the Year revealed plus Professional category winners