Global photographers have less than a month to submit their entries to the 12th annual Sony World Photography Awards’ Professional, Open and Youth competitions. Considered a major event in the photography world, the awards acknowledge the finest contemporary photography from the past year across a diverse range of photographic genres.

Scott Gray, the CEO and founder of the World Photography Organisation, remarked that each year, the Sony World Photography Awards brings new photographic talents to light and provides established artists with a global stage for their work. He expressed his anticipation to see the entries and the selection made by the esteemed panel of judges.

Photographers from all corners of the globe submit images encompassing a wide array of subjects. The Open Competition alone, judged on a single image, features 10 categories. Awards include US$25,000 for the title of Photographer of the Year and US$5,000 for the overall winner of the Open competition.

Portuguese photographer Edgar Martins, a two-time winner of the Sony World Photography Awards in 2009 and 2018, highlighted the overwhelming media attention the awards garnered, with widespread press and television coverage internationally. He noted that beyond providing his work with a substantial international platform, the awards also brought his images to the attention of collectors, curators, galleries, and museums. As a direct result of his participation in the Sony World Photography Awards, his work was acquired by numerous private and public collections.

British photographer Amanda Harman, who secured victory in the Professional Competition’s Still Life category in 2014 and earned a shortlist nomination in the Professional Landscape category for her series A Fluid Landscape in 2018, shared her positive experience. Harman emphasized that participating in the Sony World Photography Awards has opened significant doors for her career. Being shortlisted in 2018 and subsequently securing a book deal for a series captured with the Sony camera she won in 2014 felt like a fulfilling completion of a cycle. She expressed excitement for the future, acknowledging the awards’ role in propelling her career forward.

British artist Alys Tomlinson, recognized as Photographer of the Year, recounted how the award led to her representation by HackelBury Fine Art. She expressed her delight in being represented by a renowned contemporary photography gallery, which has resulted in her work being exhibited at international fairs. Furthermore, winning the award paved the way for a publishing deal, with her book slated for release by GOST Books in spring 2019.

A global platform for photography initiatives, the World Photography Organisation operates in up to 180 countries. Its mission is to elevate the discourse surrounding photography by showcasing exceptional imagery and photographers worldwide. The organization hosts a year-round calendar of events, including the Sony World Photography Awards, recognized as the world’s largest photography competition, and PHOTOFAIRS, international art fairs dedicated to photography.

Sony Imaging Products & Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, is responsible for the company’s imaging products and solutions businesses. This encompasses a range from consumer cameras and solutions, with a particular focus on broadcast and professional-use products, to the medical field.

Details:

These prestigious global awards welcome submissions from everyone, and entering is free. There are four categories, of which participants may only choose one:

Professional – Acknowledging exceptional bodies of work (closes January 11, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Open - Recognizing the world’s most outstanding single images (closes January 4, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Youth - Recognizing the best single images by photographers aged 12-19 (closes January 4, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Student – For photography students globally (submissions closed)

Key dates:

• February 5, 2019 - Open and Youth shortlists announced

• February 26, 2019 - Open and National Awards winners revealed

• March 2019 - Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient announced

• April 2, 2019 - Professional and Student shortlists unveiled

• April 17, 2019 - Photographer of the Year, Professional category winners, and overall Open, Youth and Student winners announced

All category winners will receive the latest Sony digital imaging equipment. The overall competition winner and Professional category winners will be flown to London, UK, to attend the Sony World Photography Awards dinner on April 17, 2019. An exhibition showcasing the winning and shortlisted images will be held in London from April 18 to May 6, 2019. This exhibition will also feature exclusive new works by the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award, to be revealed in March 2019.