The deadline for entry into the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards is fast approaching. Now in its 10th year, this is the world's biggest photography competition – the total number of entries received since its launch has surpassed one million. Photographers have until 5 January 2017 to submit entries across a range of categories to compete for cash prizes and Sony digital imaging equipment.
IBTimes UK presents a selection of the stunning photos submitted so far, in the hope they may inspire you to enter. See www.worldphoto.org for details.
Sebastian Wasek, UK – Nature: The lights of Madeira before sunrise, seen from Pico do Arieiro, Portugal.Sebastian Wasek/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsChen Haowen, China – Architecture: LinesChen Haowen/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsSoha Ghandour, Lebanon – Street Photography: Red Stripes, captured at the beach in Tyre, Lebanon.Soha Ghandour/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsChristian Spencer, Australia – Wildlife: A rarely seen ocelot emerges from the rainforest in Brazil, melting into to background with its amazing camouflage.Christian Spencer/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsLudwig Favre, France – Architecture: Le Bon Marché, a French department store in the 7th District of ParisLudwig Favre/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsAngiolo Manetti, Italy – Still Life: A chair in a room of an abandoned farmhouse seems overlooking on the landscape of the Tuscan hills, as if waiting for something or someone.Angiolo Manetti/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsShu Tai Poon, Hong Kong – Travel: This picture was taken at the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, Gansu, China. The unusual colours of the rock formation areas are the result of sandstone and other mineral deposits laid down over 20 million years.Shu Tai Poon/Sony World Photography Awards 2017Dustin Silvey, Canada – Travel: This photo was taken at Rainbow Mountain in the Andes of Peru. I left early without breakfast to be the first up the mountain to take some photos before other tourists arrived. This dog followed me the whole eight-hour journey and when I set up this shot he decided to join me for when the timer ran out.Dustin Silvey/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsLu Han, China – Travel: A girl stands with the royal guard at the gate to the Tomb of Mehmed V in Istanbul.Lu Han/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsTin Wing Wu, Hong Kong – Wildlife: This photo was taken at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The sun shining through the glass made a rainbow effect, and the penguin swimming under the rainbow makes it feel like a bird flying in the sky.Tin Wing Wu/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsPhilip Gunkel, Germany – Nature: The beautiful Lago di Carezza in Trentino, Italy, lit by warm evening sunlight in contrast with the dark rainy clouds racked above the Latamar massif.Philip Gunkel/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsLaura Bierens, Belgium – Portraits: Spirit.Laura Bierens/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsJelena Jankovic, Serbia – Enhanced: Blue MountainsJelena Jankovic/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsJerry Wei, China – Culture: Taken in Bagan, Burma, a monk prepares to prayJerry Wei/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsDana Za Wahyu Perdana, Indonesia – Culture: This is one of the Dayak tribal war dances on the island of Borneo.Dana Za Wahyu Perdana/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsAmri Arfianto, Indonesia – Architecture: Walking in the light. Taken at Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu DhabiAmri Arfianto/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsChristian Spencer, Australia – Wildlife: A huge flock of yellow face parrots and blue and yellow macaws fill the sky of the Brazilian cerrado with a wash of beautiful colours.Christian Spencer/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsChristiaan Kotze, South Africa – Motion: Fencing: Men's Foil Individual, Great Britain's Richard Kruse v the USA's Massialas on Sunday 7 August 2016 in Rio, Brazil.Christiaan Kotze/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsAlexandros Maragos, Greece – Nature: The Bridge of God aka Theogefyro. A natural rock bridge formed by Kalamas River at Lithino village near Zitsa of Ioannina at Epirus, Greece.Alexandros Maragos/2017 Sony World Photography AwardsKamil Nureev, Russia – Travel: Take me, Deer. Since ancient times, the Nenets have led a nomadic life, engaged in deer farming and traveling the vast tundra. Reindeer harnessed to a sled is the most reliable form of transport on the tundra. The Nenets wander in harsh weather conditions for eight months of the year. The deer give them food, clothing, housing and money.Kamil Nureev/2017 Sony World Photography Awards
All winning and shortlisted images will be exhibited in the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards show at Somerset House, London from 21 April to 7 May 2017.
