With just a few weeks remaining for photographers to enter the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards, we present a selection of early submissions to the world's largest photography competition. Entries to the Open and Youth competitions of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards will close on 5 January 2016, followed by the deadline for the Professional competition on 12 January. All competitions are free to enter at www.worldphoto.org/swpa.
Professional and amateur photographers can compete in a range of categories for cash prizes and Sony digital imaging equipment. Last year's contest attracted 173,444 entries from 171 countries. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 21 April. All winning and finalist photographers will have their work exhibited at Somerset House in London from 22 April to 8 May and published in the 2016 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book, giving them global exposure.
One professional photographer will be awarded the title of L'Iris d'Or/Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. The 2015 title was awarded to Getty Images photojournalist John Moore for his hard-hitting series documenting the Ebola crisis in Liberia.
Stefan Achorner, Austria : Evening Mood @ Tre Cime di Lavaredo. "The picture was taken near Three Peaks refuge, located in the heart of the Dolomiti di Sesto, Italy."Stefan Achorner/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Nikhil Rasiwasia, India: Life is a competition. Pelicans competing for food at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore.Nikhil Rasiwasia/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Otieno Nyadimo, Kenya: Smile at the heavens. "Smartly dressed old man laughing towards the heavens after some good fortune."Otieno Nyadimo/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Kimmo Kuisma, Finland: Homeward. "I wanted to capture this long exposure image right in the middle of a dark night with the Milky Way showing. The image shows a woman walking along a path, a path which seems to lead up to the Milky Way. She may be heading to her physical home for now, but eventually we all return to our stellar origins as stardust. My goal was to capture a portrait that displays not just the physical aspects of a person, but a portrait of her whole being as a part of a larger universe."Kimmo Kuisma/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Hendy Lie, Indonesia: Fighting. "I captured this photo of a crocodile and lizard battling. The crocodile was sunbathing when the lizard suddenly attacked."Hendy Lie/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Sanghamitra Sarkar, India: Indian tribal fashion. Tribal women of Gujrat in India wearing traditional silver ornaments and blessing a newly married girl.Sanghamitra Sarkar/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Rengga Marantica, Indonesia: ArghRengga Marantica/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Petra Van Borm, Belgium: Meanwhile. A young boy training hard in the pool to participate in the yearly triathlon while other kids are playing. The image was taken at Sandsbeach resort pool in Lanzarote.Petra Van Borm/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Pedro Jarque Krebs, Peru: Mass hysteria. A group of red flamingos arguing.Pedro Jarque Krebs/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Mildreth Vasquez López, Colombia: MomentumMildreth Vasquez López/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Marcio Yuzo Oshiro, Brazil: Isadora and her first smiles to the world. Isadora after bathing, happy and still adjusting to life.Marcio Yuzo Oshiro/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Ariel Pasini, Argentina: Dune surfer. Motocross rider surfing dunes in Villa Gesell, ArgentinaAriel Pasini,/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Maria Farrelly, UK: Hello London. This image was taken on my (cracked) iPhone on board a flight from Oslo, Norway into London Heathrow on 28 July 2015.Maria Farrelly/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Julian Ghahreman-Rad, Austria: Rush Hour. "In late summer the European hamster gets ready for hibernation. He fills up his pouches with grains, roots, plants or insects and transports them into his food chamber (that's why he is running)."Julian Ghahreman-Rad/Sony World Photography Awards 2016José María Perez, Argentina: Giraffe. (Digital manipulation.) A giant giraffe crossing Corrientes Avenue in Buenos AiresJosé María Perez/Sony World Photography Awards 2016Manfred Voss, Germany: Silver. Image shot in Northern NorwayManfred Voss/Sony World Photography Awards 2016
The judges for the 2016 competition comprise of respected figures from across the industry. Please click here to find out more about the judges and what they are looking for in the entries. For more details and information on how to enter go to www.worldphoto.org.
