Sony World Photography Awards 2012: Shortlist announced

Today, Thursday 2 February, the World Photography Organisation announces the shortlist for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards. Billed as the global photographic event of the year, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the very best in photography from around the world, from the next generation of emerging photographers through to the established masters of the art.

The 2012 competition has garnered increased worldwide interest with over 112,000 entries from 171 countries, with the shortlisted images depicting the stories of extraordinary lives from around the world. The Professional competition reflects a turbulent year of global events with the war in Libya; the Greek and European economic crisis; the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and the fall of Gaddafi, in the Photojournalism & Documentary categories. The shortlist for the Fine Art and Commercial categories gets to the very heart of daily life - a small sheep-farming community in Iceland; the rice harvest in South China; a religious pilgrimage in Poland and gold diggers in Chile.

This year the honorary jury found the quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories, discovering many photographers new to the Sony World Photography Awards roster. Manuel Geerinck (Belgium); Lee Chee Wai (Malaysia); Alejandro Cartagena (Mexico), Irina Werning (Argentina); Gwenn Dubourthoumieu (Republic of the Congo) and Simon Norfolk (UK), are but a few of the new names to place as finalists and shortlisted photographers.

Returning photographers from previous years, include 2010 Professional Landscape winner, Peter Franck (Germany); who this year is a finalist in three categories; 2011 Professional Contemporary Issues and Current Affairs winner, Javier Arcenillas (Spain); and Chan Kwok Hung (Hong Kong) whose stunningly dramatic image ‘Buffalo Race’ won the Overall Open Competition in 2011.

W M Hunt, Chair of the Honorary Judging Committee, commented: ‘As a judge, you bring an open mind and a passion for photography - its presence and its present, its past and its legacy. You are hopeful and hungry to see great work that is fresh and full, expecting the exceptional. The rewards are rich and delightful. It is a pleasure to present this year's selections.’

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation added: ‘Looking at the vast collection of shortlisted work across the categories, is truly gratifying this year. Within the Professional awards, the bodies of work are beautifully presented and distinctive, whilst in the Open categories, the single snapshots are diverse and demonstrate excellent skill within the amateur market. The new Youth competition also delighted us, as we were thrilled to find some exceptional budding talent.’

In being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, photographers can now look forward to the invaluable support of the World Photography Organisation, which includes having their work exhibited at a major exhibition at London’s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012.

The shortlist for the Professional Competition was selected by the Honorary Judging committee which was chaired by esteemed photographic consultant W.M. Hunt. This year the Open entries were judged by a pre-selection committee of inspectors from Shutterstock, WPO and representatives from Sony. The Youth Competition was judged by a WPO and Sony selection committee.

The annual Sony World Photography Awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on 26 April at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane. The awards celebration will once again take place alongside World Photo, London, a month-long event which brings an eclectic mix of photographic events for all to enjoy. The opening weekend of World Photo London will be held at Somerset House from 27 - 30 April with selected events including portfolio reviews, workshops, symposiums and the Sony World Photography Awards winners’ exhibitions, which continue through to 20 May 2012. Honorary Judges for the 2012 Awards and other international industry experts will be leading many of the festival events.

Professional shortlisted photographers

Honorary judging committee:

Presiding Chair: W. M. Hunt (USA) Photographic Consultant.

Chairs: Michael Benson (UK) Director, Prix Pictet; James Reid (UK) Photography Director of Wallpaper*; Claudia Hinterseer (Netherlands) Managing Director and co-owner of NOOR.

Additional Jury: Jodi Bieber (South Africa) Photographer; Jon Jones (UK) Director of Photography Sunday Times Magazine; Rebecca Lewis (US) Vice-President and Senior Agent for Art+Commerce; Prabuddha Dasgupta (India) Photographer; Shizuka Yokomizo (Japan) Photographer.

In each category the judges could select up to three finalist photographers and up to seven additional shortlist photographers. From the finalists, the winners plus 2^nd and 3^rd place will be chosen and announced at the awards ceremony on 26 April.

Photographers are listed alphabetically.

PHOTOJOURNALISM & DOCUMENTARY

Current Affairs

Finalists:

• Fernando Alfonso Brito Lizárraga (El Debate de Culiacan), Mexico
• Rémi Ochlik (IP3 Press), France
• Donald Weber (VII PHOTO), Canada

Shortlisted:

• Javier Arcenillas, Spain
• Fabio Bucciarelli, Italy
• Pietro Masturzo, Italy
• Giorgos Moutafis, Greece
• Goran Tomasevic, United Kingdom

Contemporary Issues

Finalists:

• Kasia Bielska, Poland
• Alessandro Grassani, Italy
• Gustavo Jononovich, Argentina

Shortlisted:

• Francesco Giusti, Italy
• Sebastian Liste, Spain
• Ivor Prickett, Ireland
• Jose Luis Rodriguez Maldonado, Columbia
• Natasha Shulte, Ukraine
• Anastasia Taylor-Lind, United Kingdom
• Donald Weber (VII PHOTO), Canada

People

Finalists:

• Alejandro Cartagena, Mexico
• Maja Daniels, Sweden
• Simon Norfolk, United Kingdom

Shortlisted:

• Philippe Leroux, France
• Kerry Mansfield, United States
• Francesca Oggiano, Italy
• Huage Shang, China
• Salvi Danés Vernedas, Spain

Sport

Finalists:

• Pawel Kopczynski (Thomson Reuters), Poland
• Andrew McConnell, Ireland
• Palmer + Pawel, United Kingdom

Shortlisted:

• Colin Delfosse , Belgium
• Alvaro Deprit, Italy
• Mikhail Domozhilov, Russian Federation
• Adam Pretty, Australia
• Scott Robin Barbour, New Zealand
• Robin Utrecht, Netherlands

Nature & Wildlife

Finalists:

• David Chancellor (Institute), United Kingdom
• Jacek Kusz, Poland
• Palani Mohan, India

Shortlisted:

• Sali Bera, India
• Terence du Fresne, Switzerland
• Barbara Leven, United States
• Suren Manvelyan, Armenia
• Tapash Paul, Bangladesh

Arts and Culture

Finalists:

• Rob Hornstra, Netherlands
• Anastasia Taylor-Lind, United Kingdom
• Mattia Vacca, Italy

Shortlisted:

• Javier Arcenillas, Spain
• Jacek Swierczynski, Poland
• Yannick Cormier, France
• Alvaro Deprit, Italy
• Susana Girón, Spain
• Davide Monteleone, Italy
• Andrea Santolaya, Spain

COMMERCIAL

Campaign

Finalists:

• Javier Arcenillas, Spain
• Peter Franck (Büro stoltenhoff), Germany
• Laura Pannack, United Kingdom

Shortlisted:

• Michael Blann, United Kingdom
• Felipe Cantillana, Chile
• Jan von Holleben, Germany
• Miguel Navarro, United Kingdom
• Michelle Siu, Canada
• Roberto Soares-Gomes, Brazil
• Daniele Testa, Italy

Travel

Finalists:

• Jan Brykczynski, Poland
• Luis Henry Agudelo Cano, Colombia
• Peter Franck, Germany

Shortlisted:

• Giancarlo Ceraudo, Italy
• Andrea Hamilton, United Kingdom
• Cristina De Middel, Spain
• Yurian Quintanas Nobel, Spain
• Gianluca Pulcini, Italy
• Lisa Wiltse, United States

Fashion

Finalists:

• Peter Franck, Germany
• Elizaveta Porodina, Germany
• Jayden Tang, China

Shortlisted:

• Michelle Beatty, United Kingdom
• Susi Belianska, Slovakia
• Romano Decker Dejan Kutic, Croatia
• Filippo Del Vita, Italy
• Alice Pavesi, Italy
• Dasha Ketsko, Ukraine
• Frauke Thielking, Germany

FINE ART

Architecture

Finalists:

• Igor Chirikov, Russian Federation
• David Airob, Spain
• Simon Norfolk, United Kingdom

Shortlisted:

• Robin Broderick, Canada
• Riccardo Budini, Italy
• Tamas Bujnovszky, Hungary
• Alejandro Cartagena, Mexico
• Paula Gortazar, Spain
• David de Jong, Netherlands
• Michael Joseph, United States

Portraiture

Finalists:

• Lei Liu, China
• Paolo Marchetti, Italy
• Irina Werning, Argentina

Shortlisted:

• Gwenn Dubourthoumieu, The Democratic Republic of Congo
• Lavinia Parlamenti, Italy
• Johann Rousselot, France
• Javier Arcenillas, Spain
• George Mayer, Russian Federation

Landscape

Finalists :

• Rona Chang, United States
• Lee Chee Wai, Malaysia
• Mitch Dobrowner, United States

Shortlisted:

• Regis Boileau, France
• Ximena Etchart, Argentina
• Jeroen Hofman, Netherlands
• Zhang Kechun, China
• Matthias H. Risse, Germany
• Chaoliang Shen, Taiwan, Province of China
• Stephen Wilkes, United States

Still Life

Finalists:

• Renan Cepeda, Brazil
• Rena Effendi (INSTITUTE), Azerbaijan
• Helen Thompson, United Kingdom

Shortlisted:

• Michal Cole, United Kingdom
• Peter Franck, Germany
• Martina Geccelli, United Kingdom
• Miri Mor, Israel
• Song Nian Ang, Singapore
• Gicheol Shin, Republic of Korea

Conceptual

Finalists:

• Manuel Geerinck, Belgium
• Luis Mallo, United States
• Cristina De Middel, Spain

Shortlisted:

• Carlo D'Orta, Italy
• Photographer Hal, Japan
• Giuseppe Parisi, Italy
• Carlos Henrique Reinesch, Brazil
• Sanne Maloe Slecht, Netherlands
• Patricia van de Camp, Netherlands

Open shortlisted photographers

In each category judges were able to select up to ten images.

Architecture

• Babul Bhatt, India
• Patrice Carré, France
• Filippo Di Rosa, Italy
• Fabrizio Intonti, Italy
• Francisco Mendes, Portugal
• Rui Nunes, United Kingdom
• Fulvio Pellegrini, Italy
• José Ramón Montes, Spain
• Thai Son Huynh, Vietnam

Arts & Culture

• Dovile Dagiene, Lithuania
• Levi Fanan, Brazil
• Kushal Gangopadhyay, India
• Antonio Iubatti, Italy
• Sanket K, India
• Klaartje Lambrechts, Belgium
• Oliver Mezger, Germany
• Tan Nono Rahardian, Indonesia
• Samanta Sollima, Italy
• Paul Störm, Australia

Enhanced

• Alexandr Afonin, Russian Federation
• Sandra Cifo, United States
• Paul Irving, United Kingdom
• Milan Makarský, Czech Republic
• Frank Martin Eisele, Germany
• Rodolfo Mejías, Venezuela
• Jochen Resch, Germany
• Oren Shved, Israel
• Victor Vargas Villafuerte, Mexico
• Antonios Vlachou, Slovakia

Low Light

• Elmar Akhmetov, Kazakhstan
• Edoardo Brotto, Italy
• Ignasi cunill, Spain
• Teng Hin Khoo, Malaysia
• Sergey Kochmak, Russian Federation
• Christoph Krüger, Germany
• Belentsova Natalia, Russian Federation
• Pansiri Pikunkaew, Thailand
• Derrick Woo, Hong Kong
• Heng Zee Kek, Singapore

Nature & Wildlife

• Nadav Bagim, Israel
• Anita Erdmann, Canada
• Handri Fitrido, Indonesia
• Felicitas Frei, Switzerland
• Giovanni Frescura, Italy
• Peter Krejzl, Czech Republic
• Chan Kwok Hung, Hong Kong
• William Lee, United States
• Kuntal Paul, India
• Petar Sabol, Croatia

Panoramic

• Pramiga Aditya, Indonesia
• Ionut Hrenciuc, Romania
• Istvan Nagy, Netherlands
• Noel Plaszkó, Hungary
• Matthew Post, Australia
• James Rider, United Kingdom
• Terry Soo, Australia
• Ian Taylor, United Kingdom
• Steve Williams, United Kingdom
• Denise Worden, United States

People

• Victoria Bolshemennik, Israel
• Tommy Braxton, United Kingdom
• Thomas Dymond, United Kingdom
• Mehmet Fatih Yaldiz, Turkey
• Ana Gregorič, Slovenia
• Paul MacKinnon, United Kingdom
• Christine Pearl, United States
• Fulvio Pellegrini, Italy
• Zulkifli Thalib, Indonesia
• Игорь Лобанов, Russian Federation

Smile

• Ricky Alexander, Indonesia
• Nguyen Duc Tri, Vietnam
• Gerold Guggenbuehl, Switzerland
• Arnold Jumpay, Philippines
• Anom Manik Agung, Indonesia
• Kivera Mara, Reunion
• Diana Mrazikova, Slovakia
• Meghann Prouse, United States
• Piotr Stasiuk, Poland

Split Second

• Cemhan Biricik, United States
• Tobias Bräuning, Germany
• Samuel Chan, China
• Andrzej Chrobot, Poland
• Alessandro Falco, Italy
• Don Horne, Ireland
• Johnny Joo, United States
• Gustavo Magnavacca, Argentina
• Greg Parker, United Kingdom
• Peter Prazenka, Slovakia

Travel

• Krzysztof Browko, Poland
• Krzysztof Browko, Poland
• Marco Lachmann-Anke, Germany
• John Lai Teck Kee, Malaysia
• Carlos Macedonio, Brazil
• N S Ng, Singapore
• Keith Pace, Malta
• Suprijanto Suprijanto, Indonesia
• George Turnbull, United Kingdom
• Malte Wittmann, Germany

Youth shortlisted photographers

Culture

• Hanne Grannestad, Norway
• Sahil Lodha, India
• Merijn Mulder, Netherlands
• Carolina Paltrinieri, Italy
• SergeyKolyaskin , Russian Federation
• Benedek Varga, Hungary

Environment

• Alla Aliokhina, Ukraine
• Sergey Kolyaskin, Russian Federation
• Thamyres Matarozzi, Brazil
• Bernard Pieterse, South Africa
• Imanuel Thallinger, Austria
• Kazi Sudipto, Bangladesh
• Kseniya Sovenko, United States

Portraits

• Tertious Alio, Russian Federation
• Hadi Asgari, Iran
• Lidia K, United Kingdom
• Darya Kasyanova, Russian Federation
• Karina Sember, Ukraine
• Kolyaskin Sergey, Russian Federation
• Felicia Simion, Romania
• Marina Tkhorzhevskaya, Russian Federation
• Berta Vicente, Spain

Key dates 2012

07 February Student Focus finalists announcement

20 March Open (amateur) category winners announced

26 April Sony World Photography Awards, gala ceremony held London Hilton

27 April Sony World Photography Award Winners and World Photo, London exhibitions open at Somerset House London