The annual Sony World Photography Awards has announced the winners and shortlisted entries for its 2022 Open Competition. The Open Competition recognizes the best single images submitted in 2021. Over 170,000 images were submitted from around the globe. 100 photographers were shortlisted while 10 overall category winners were selected.
The Open Competition was judged by Newsweek Japan’s Director of Photography, Hideko Kataoka. ‘I enjoyed judging this wide variety of categories from Object to Street Photography….The photographs in this competition each make a coherent visual statement about a situation or particular circumstance in an elegant visual way. As can be seen in many images in the shortlist this year, black and white photography holds a special place in the hearts of many photographers. The simplicity of black and white has the power to distill the content of an image, and direct the viewer’s attention to the subject.’
Each category winner received a Sony camera and other digital imaging equipment. The Open Competition’s overall winner, as well as Student, Youth, and Professional, will be announced on April 12th and those selected will receive an additional $5,000 cash prize. They will also be displayed at an exhibition at London’s Somerset House from April 13th – May 22nd, 2022.
More information on the Sony World Photography Awards Open Competition can be found at worldphoto.org. It is always free to enter.