The World Photography Organization has announced the professional category finalists and shortlisted photographers for the Sony World Photography Awards 2024.
This year over 395,000 images from more than 220 countries and territories were submitted to professional categories, a new record for the 17-year-old competition.
Organizers have whittled those entries down to three finalists and an assortment of shortlisted images in each of 10 categories: Architecture & Design, Creative, Documentary Projects, Environment, Landscape, Portfolio, Portraiture, Sport, Still Life and Wildlife & Nature.
The Sony World Photography Awards have multiple divisions for awards. This year’s student and youth shortlist was announced in January. The open competition, which recognizes single images (the professional division is for a series of photographs), is set to announce that category’s finalists and shortlist in March.
Eagle-eyed readers may recall the awards ran into some controversy last year when first place in the creative open category was awarded to an AI-generated image. Its creator, German artist Boris Eldagsen, disclosed that fact when he refused his prize.
Once all division finalists have been announced, the final winners for each category will be selected on April 19, 2024. An overall winner for Photographer of the Year 2024 will also be chosen from the professional finalists and be awarded $25,000, Sony equipment and a solo showing of their work as part of next year’s awards exhibition.
The following day a selection of winning and shortlisted works will be part of a traveling exhibition that kicks off in London on April 19, 2024.
“The jury was captivated by the passionate storytelling; capturing both the joys and the challenges of human existence across our planet,” Chair of the Jury Monica Allende said regarding the professional entries.
We’ve gathered the finalists in each category; take a look.