2022 Sony World Photography Awards Launch

About

The Sony World Photography Awards 2022 are coming to Open Eye Gallery!

Created by the World Photography Organisation and sponsored by Sony, the Awards have run for 16 years,with four main competitions: Professional, Open, Youth and Student. Bringing together compelling stories from around the globe, the work you see here pushes the boundaries of creativity and shows the depth and versatility of the medium.

Speaking about curating this year’s exhibition, Jury chair Mike Trow says I’d like all visitors to go away feeling that their world is a little bigger, that beauty is not always obvious, and that whether you like or dislike the work, there are talking points and references that stay with you. All the artists on show here have made work they believe in, that reflects themselves and I hope has meaning to you the viewer.

Join us on November 10th from 6-8pm to celebrate the launch of this international competition with drinks, music from Dance for Plants and a special announcement …

The competition categories are as follows:

The Professional Competition

The Professional competition recognises exceptional series across 10 distinct categories: Architecture & Design, Creative, Documentary Projects, Environment, Landscape, Portfolio, Portraiture, Sport, Still Life, Wildlife & Nature. Photographer of the Year is awarded $25,000, global exposure and Sony digital imaging kit.

The Latin America Professional Award

To celebrate the best dynamic and inspiring photographic work currently created in Latin America, the World Photography Organisation and Sony Latin America launches the Latin America Professional Award. The prize is open to all photographers from Latin American countries entering bodies of work to the Professional competition.

Since its inception in 2020, the programme has uncovered some of the most interesting and talented photographers from the region and put their work on a local as well as global stage. Photographers receive Sony digital imaging equipment and exposure through a dedicated exhibition touring Latin America.

The Student Competition

The Student competition is open to all students aged 18 to 30 years old enrolled in academic institutions worldwide. Student photographers were challenged to interpret the theme ‘Connections’ and show a story that highlights how they, or someone they have documented, interacts with the world.

Student Photographer of the Year’s university is given Sony digital imaging equipment worth €30,000. Photographer of the Year

Due to the global pandemic, the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition has been online for the past two years, available for audiences around the globe to enjoy on the World Photography Organisation website.

On show in this year’s exhibition is 2020 Photographer of the Year Pablo Albarenga’s series Seeds of Resistance. Commenting on his win, Albarenga says: “With this important award, I see two victories: first, the opportunity to tell the stories of the traditional communities of the Amazon […] and secondly, that the Photographer of the Year award has landed in Latin America – a continent historically told through the eyes of foreigners. I hope that many more photographers from our region will continue to contribute with our voices, thus strengthening the amazing community of Latin American storytellers.” Following this exhibition, Craig Easton, Photographer of the Year of the 2021 Awards, will have a solo exhibition featuring the award-winning series Bank Top, alongside the series Thatcher’s Children.

The Open Competition

The Open competition welcomes photographers – both established and emerging – to submit their striking single images across 10 distinct categories: Architecture, Creative, Motion, Landscape, Lifestyle, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography and Travel. Open Photographer of the Year is awarded $5,000, global exposure and Sony digital imaging kit.

The Youth Competition

The 2022 edition of the Youth competition was open to photographers aged 12 to 19 years-old who could submit images relating to a specific theme each month. Running from June to December, the seven themes were Composition and Design, Street Photography, Landscape, Culture and Travel, Wildlife and Nature, Portraiture and an Open Call. Alongside worldwide exposure with today’s leading image-makers, the Youth Photographer of the Year is awarded a range of Sony digital imaging kit.

The Alpha Female Award

The Alpha Female Award stems from the Sony Alpha Universe’s Alpha Female initiative, which focuses on creating opportunities for professional photographers, videographers, and filmmakers to help foster a richer, more diverse industry where all creators can build strong voices and bodies of work.

The Alpha Female Award has expands programme globally by recognising women photographers who enter the Open competition. The winner receives Sony digital imaging equipment and, along with the shortlisted photographers, enjoys worldwide exposure through a dedicated online media campaign. Together the successful photographers promote the programme on an international scale.

Keep up with The Awards with links and dedicated hashtags below.

Instagram @worldphotoorg

Twitter @WorldPhotoOrg

Linkedin World Photography Organisation

Facebook World Photography Organisation

#SWPA2022 #SWPAontour #sonyworldphotographyawards