Sony lists World Photo finalists

The shortlist for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world’s leading photography competitions, was revealed yesterday by the World Photography Organisation.

* Image entitled The Last Summer Day. Taken by Igor Kryzhko

Photographers from 166 countries submitted nearly 140,000 images, the highest number of entries in the awards’ seven year history. From the submissions the judges have selected an eclectic shortlist representing the very finest in international contemporary photography from the past 12 months.

The judges found within the submissions many stories which force the viewer to find something surprising within the everyday. Well-documented scenes were approached with fresh and ground-breaking photography styles and are set to inspire other photographers around the world.

W.M Hunt, Chair of the Honorary Jury, said that the shortlist is ‚”a healthy and diverse representation of contemporary photography by an international range of practitioners.‚”

He added that the judges were a ‚”soulful and hardworking group‚” who have given both emerging and established photographers a global platform on which they can be highlighted and celebrated.

To this, Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation, also adds: ‚”I have had the pleasure of witnessing the careful selection and ultimate revelation of the shortlist for seven years now and the results are never less than utterly gratifying. Year upon year, we are fortunate enough to receive thousands of entries across each category of our awards, making the process of discovery an invigorating experience. This year is no exception and the awards have once again provided us with an impressive collection of photographs, spanning dozens of genres, styles, locations and subject matters.‚”

All the shortlisted images will go on show at Somerset House, London, from 1-18 May as part of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. Tickets are now available at www.worldphoto.org/2014exhibition. The winning and finalist images will also be published in the 2014 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book.

The winners of the Open and Youth categories will be announced on 18 March.

Professional category winners and the coveted L’Iris D’Or/ Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year title will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 30 April.

The L’Iris D’Or winner will receive $25,000 (USD) and the Open Photographer of the Year will receive $5,000 (USD). All winners, including category winners, will receive the latest digital imaging equipment from Sony.

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