The 2015 Sony World Photography Awards, the world's biggest photography competition, has announced the shortlists for its Professional, Open and Youth competitions. The 2015 competition received the highest number of entries in its eight-year history – 173,444 images from 171 countries.
Those in the awards' Professional categories will now compete for a $25,000 (£16,000) prize and the coveted L'Iris d'Or/ Photographer of the Year title, which will be announced at the Sony World Photography Awards gala ceremony on 23 April. All winners will receive the latest Sony digital imaging equipment.
The winning and shortlisted images will go on show at Somerset House in London from 24 April to 10 May and will be published in the 2015 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book.
In this gallery, IBTimesUK publishes a selection of the 208 shortlisted Professional photos. And take a look at the Open shortlist. To see more, go to www.worldphoto.org.
Ukraine, Kiev, Euromaidan: Vladyslav Musiienko, Ukraine, Current AffairsVladyslav Musiienko, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsUkraine, Kiev, Euromaidan: Vladyslav Musiienko, Ukraine, Current AffairsVladyslav Musiienko, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsEbola Crisis Overwhelms Liberian Capital: John Moore, United States, Current AffairsJohn Moore, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsEbola Crisis Overwhelms Liberian Capital: John Moore, United States, Current AffairsJohn Moore, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsBlack Days of Ukraine: Valery Melnikov, Russian Federation, Current AffairsValery Melnikov, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsBlack Days of Ukraine: Valery Melnikov, Russian Federation, Current AffairsValery Melnikov, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsA Life Apart: The Toll of Obesity: Lisa Krantz, United States, Contemporary IssuesLisa Krantz, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsFirst Sight: Brent Stirton, South Africa, Contemporary IssuesBrent Stirton, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsAcid Survivors in India: Jordi Pizarro, Spain, ConceptualJordi Pizarro, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsSwedish Dads: Johan Bavman, Sweden, PeopleJohan Bavman, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsLa Ville Noire - The Dark Heart of Europe: Giovanni Troilo, Italy, PeopleGiovanni Troilo, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsGlasgow, Second City of The Empire. On the run up to the Scottish Referendum: Dougie Wallace, United Kingdom, PortraitureDougie Wallace, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsGlasgow, Second City of The Empire. On the run up to the Scottish Referendum: Dougie Wallace, United Kingdom, PortraitureDougie Wallace, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsChild Victims of First World War : Vova Pomortzeff, Russian Federation, Still LifeVova Pomortzeff, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsParadise Lust: Liza Van der Stock, Belgium, PeopleLiza Van der Stock, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsCat-mothers: Ramil Gilvanov, Russian Federation, LifestyleRamil Gilvanov, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsCat-mothers: Ramil Gilvanov, Russian Federation, LifestyleRamil Gilvanov, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsAnimal Behaviour: Kimmo Metsäranta, Finland, Still LifeKimmo Metsäranta, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsAerial Views Adria: Bernhard Lang, Germany, TravelBernhard Lang, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsClubs in Italy: Massimo Siragusa, Italy, ArchitectureMassimo Siragusa, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsShadow City: Ronaldo Land, Brazil, SportRonaldo Land, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsBlue Fields: Simon Butterworth, United Kingdom, LandscapeSimon Butterworth, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsNorthern Lights: Clas Kristensen, Norway, SportClas Kristensen, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsRestricted Areas: Danila Tkachenko, Russian Federation, LandscapeDanila Tkachenko, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsOvernight at the Beach: Adhi Prayoga, Indonesia, TravelAdhi Prayoga, 2015 Sony World Photography AwardsWhen I am Laid in Earth: Simon Norfolk, United Kingdom, LandscapeSimon Norfolk, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards
