Deadlines: Professional: January 10, 2017
Youth & Open: January 5, 2017
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Student Focus: December 5, 2016
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Prizes: Photographer of the Year – $25,000 (USD) / Sony digital imaging equipment / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
Open Competition winner – $5,000 (USD) / Sony digital imaging equipment / Flights and accommodation to the awards ceremony in London / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
Youth competition winner – Flights and accommodation to awards in London / Sony digital imaging equipment / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
Sony World Photography Awards
Welcome to the world’s largest photography competition
Free to enter and open to all photographers, the awards’ are an authoritative voice in the photographic industry, with the power to shape the careers of its winning, shortlisted and commended photographers.
In 2016 the total number of entries received since the first edition in 2007 surpassed 1 million images, reinforcing its position as one of the most respected and influential photography competitions in existence.
Each year a total prize fund of $30,000 (USD) plus the latest Sony digital imaging equipment is shared between winning photographers. Photographers are taken on a year-long journey, bringing untold exposure and providing a global stage on which to present their work.
The hugely popular Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition, featuring a selection of winning, shortlisted and commended images, is curated at the prestigious Somerset House, London each Spring.
The Sony World Photography Awards has four competitions
Professional
At the pinnacle of the Professional competition is the title of Photographer of the Year, one of the most distinguished and highly regarded awards in photography. The winner is chosen each year by the Honorary Jury from among the first place winners of all the Professional categories.
Prizes
- Photographer of the Year – $25,000 (USD) / Sony digital imaging equipment / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
- Category winners – Flights & accommodation to awards ceremony in London / Sony digital imaging equipment / Publication in winners’ book / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
- Shortlist – Digital exhibition at Somerset House, London
Categories
- Architecture
- Conceptual
- Landscape
- Natural world
- Portraiture
- Still life
- Current affairs & news
- Contemporary issues
- Daily life
- Sport
Open
Photographers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels are invited to enter the Open competition of the world’s biggest photography competition.
Prizes
- Open Competition winner – $5,000 (USD) / Sony digital imaging equipment / Flights and accommodation to the awards ceremony in London / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
- Category winners – Sony digital imaging equipment / Publication in winners’ book / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
- Shortlist – Digital exhibition at Somerset House, London / Publication in winners’ book
Categories
- Architecture
- Culture
- Enhanced
- Motion
- Nature
- Wildlife
- Portraits
- Still life
- Street photography
- Travel
Youth
This year, young photographers are asked to respond to the brief:
Beauty
The definition of ‘beauty’ is:
the quality of being pleasing, especially to look at, or someone or something that gives great pleasure, especially when you look at it.
In your photograph, the judges are looking to see what you consider to be ‘beauty’. Take the word in its widest form – from the environment to people, animals to still life.
Prizes
- Youth competition winner – Flights and accommodation to awards in London / Sony digital imaging equipment / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
- Shortlist – Digital exhibition at Somerset House, London / Publication in winners’ book
Student Focus
The Student Focus competition is one of the world’s leading programs for photography students. Anyone undertaking a full-time photography course can take part.
Each year all registered universities are given a unique 1st challenge, with a time frame given for their students to respond and submit a single image per university. A shortlist of 10 students are then selected and given a 2nd and final challenge.
Students must be between 18 – 30 years of age on the closing date of the competition.
This year’s 1st challenge is:
Memories
You’re encouraged to recreate one of your favorite memories in a single image. It could be from your childhood; a moment of laughter with friends; a first date, or from a walk in the rain last week.
In addition to the main prizes, all winning and shortlisted photographers will be included in a global press campaign, featured on the World Photography Organisation website and exhibited at Somerset House, London in Spring 2017.
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