Pictures Perfect
2019 Sony World Photography Awards Reveal Stunning Shortlist
The World Photography Organisation has revealed the shortlisted photographers for the Open and Youth competitions of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards, recognising the world's best
single images from 2018. As one of the world's largest and most prestigious global photography competitions, the Awards annually celebrate and promote the best contemporary photography from the past year across a wide variety of photographic genres.
Over 326,000 entries were submitted from 195 different countries across the four competitions of the 2019 Awards, the highest ever number to date in the competitions's 12-year history. The judges
were impressed by the high standard of submissions and noted a wide range of creative approaches, influences and techniques throughout the shortlists.
Across the competitions, the highest volume of entries were submitted by photographers from the UK, Italy and USA, with Mexico, India, Korea and the UK seeing the greatest increase in entry numbers. The Landscape and Portraiture categories proved their enduring popularity, and newer categories such as Creative provided photographers with a real opportunity to push the boundaries of what photography can do.
The Open shortlist comprises of stunning works selected across ten very diverse categories. Subject matter varied from striking underwater photographs to majestic portraits, to urban scenes and magical landscapes. All Open
shortlisted photographers will go on to compete to become category winners, with the chance to be selected as Open Photographer of the Year, along with a cash prize of US$5,000.
The Youth shortlist features the top eight single images taken by 12-19 year olds responding to the theme of ‘Diversity'. Shortlisted photographers hail from as far and wide as China to Zimbabwe, and to Bangladesh and Moldova, showing a truly international array of upcoming talent. Out of the many, only one young photographer will be announced as Youth Photographer of the Year.
Commenting on this year's overall entry figures and shortlists, Scott Gray (CEO, World Photography Organisation) notes, “The Sony World Photography Awards were created as
a global platform for photographers of all abilities to showcase their work. I am therefore delighted that the World Photography Organisation can give this year's shortlisted Open and Youth photographers the exposure and recognition that they richly deserve. Photography is a vibrant and energetic medium that is easily accessible and used throughout our daily lives. Today's outstanding shortlists demonstrate the very high quality of imagery one must achieve in order to be shortlisted at the Awards. Congratulations to all our shortlisted photographers.”
The objective of the Sony World Photography Awards is to establish a platform for the continuous development of photographic culture, and they do this by recognising great contributions to photography. This happened in the past
through the Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize as well as through finding new talents of the future, and providing them with the opportunity to be promoted and exhibited around the world.
Next Spring, the hugely popular Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition, featuring the spectacular winning, shortlisted and commended images, will be curated at the famous London landmark, Somerset House. Sorted into 10 different categories, the images include subjects as diverse as Architecture, Landscape, Motion, Culture, Portraiture, Natural World and Wildlife and Travel. Attracting around 30,000 visitors each year, the exhibition featuries over 600 images, taking up both East and West wings of this magnificent building, making this is a must-see event in London's cultural calendar.