Now in its 12th year, the Sony World Photography Awards highlight the best contemporary photography worldwide. The awards comprise four categories: Open, Youth, Student Focus, and Professional. The Open awards recognise outstanding individual images, while the Professional categories celebrate bodies of work. There is also an award for Outstanding Contribution to Photography – this year awarded to Candida Höfer, known for her large-scale, richly detailed pictures of empty interiors.
This year 319,561 images were submitted from more than 200 countries and territories (a 40% increase on 2017).
A total prize fund of $30,000, plus Sony digital imaging equipment, was shared between the winning photographers.
Aside from the prize money, the organisers aim to provide extensive exposure to the winners, shortlisted and commended entrants, and support new talent via the Student,…