The Sony World Photography Awards are well-known for picking and rewarding photographers for their unique perspectives on seemingly ordinary elements. This professional competition features photographs from all over the world, showcasing the works of lesser-known photographers. Here are some photos that stood out from the rest in the Sony Photography National & Regional Awards 2023.
Sony National & Regional Awards
Each year, Sony features over a hundred photographers through its various competitions across the globe. A staggering 415,000 images from 200 countries and territories were submitted to Sony, though only a few made it to the fore.
According to Forbes, the national winners of this award represent diversity and culture. The expert panel selects the best photos from each country while taking the cultural background into account. It’s worth noting that all of the winning photographs showcase a unique understanding of their own culture or history.
Comprising four categories – Professional, Open, Student, and Youth, all entries remain free, and the winner gets to take home $25,000! Regarded as one of the world’s oldest mediums of everything photography, the winners also get photography equipment, accompanied by features in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.
The Winners
The winner from each country gets universal honour and recognition for a single, fantastic photograph. The winning photographers get the chance to showcase their stellar snaps to a global audience alongside other competition winners as well.
This owlet was photographed while trying to peek from a hole in a tree trunk, Protap Shekhar Mohanto’s capture is an easy win!
The Captivating Eyes, Winner Bangladesh National Awards.
PHOTO: PROTAP SHEKHOR MOHANTO, BANGLADESH – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Kyujin Jeong’s The Peaceful Morning steals a slice of peace that must have spread through Nara Park in Japan on a fog-covered November morning. On the other hand, Yawar Abbas’ scenic winter landscape from Pakistan perhaps speaks of more deeper sorrow.
The Peaceful Morning, Second place Korean Republic National Awards.
PHOTO: KYUJIN JEONG, REPUBLIC OF KOREA – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Winner Pakistan National Awards.
PHOTO: YAWAR ABBAS, PAKISTAN – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Abdulla Al-Mushaifri’s Confident was taken in the Sultanate of Oman. It shows us a man riding with an air of calm while demonstrating his horsemanship skills. Similarly, The Girl with the Red Hat transports the viewer from their cozy couch to a building designed by Zaha Hadid.
Confident, Winner Qatar National Awards.
PHOTO: ABDULLA AL-MUSHAIFRI, QATAR – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
The Girl with the Red Hat, Shortlisted, Cyprus Regional Awards. PHOTO: HELENA GEORGIOU, CYPRUS – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
In Rajeev Abeysekara’s Glare of a Predator, we find ourselves staring right into the eyes of a leopard lounging inside the foliage. Forest Entrance by Gyu Seob Shim takes us to a bike path next to Yangjaecheon – a small river snaking past Seoul. Costa Rica’s Slow Walk features a red-eyed tree frog making its way on a branch, while the Finland winner “Lapland” by Roberto Pavic puts both cold and warm tones in an embrace.
Glare of a Predator, Winner, Sri Lanka National Awards.
PHOTO: RAJEEV ABEYSEKARA, SRI LANKA – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Forest Entrance, Winner, Korean Republic National Awards. PHOTO: GYU SEOB SHIM, REPUBLIC OF KOREA – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Slow Walk, Shortlisted, Latin America National Awards. PHOTO: MANUEL RODRÍGUEZ, COSTA RICA – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Lapland, Winner, Finland Regional Awards. PHOTO: ROBERTO PAVIĆ, CROATIA – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Same But Different by Chan Sithy Heng looks like time has stood still for the “Phare” performers narrating Cambodian tales. Meanwhile, Si Thu Ye’s Family Donation captures a fiery tale in itself. Photographer Angela Perez strips her subject to the most basic self in her portrait “Imperfect.” Reynaldo San Martin’s breathtaking snap of the foreboding yet grand peak of Illimani pulls off the contrast between browns and blacks with ease.
Same But Different, Winner, Cambodia National Awards. PHOTO: CHAN SITHY HENG, CAMBODIA – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Family Donation, Winner, Myanmar National Awards. Myin Twin Village. PHOTO: SI THU YE MYINT, MYANMAR – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Imperfect, Winner, U.S. National Awards.
PHOTO: ANGELA PEREZ, UNITED STATES – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Guard Illimani, Shortlisted, Latin America National Awards. PHOTO: REYNALDO SAN MARTÍN, BOLIVIA – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Ballerina by Kazutoshi Ono makes for a unique juxtaposition; it’s a delight for cat lovers worldwide. Siren’s Dawn by Mateusz Zurowski will take you for a dip in the Baltic Sea, Poland, and Leo Huang’s Jumping Rope is an easy favourite! Last but not least, Great Joy by Tshabalala Bongani presents us with a perfect portrait!
Ballerina, 2nd Place, Japan National Awards. PHOTO: KAZUTOSHI ONO, JAPAN – SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
In A Nutshell
These awards have had a significant impact on the photography industry. They remind us that creativity can and does get you far. These competitions don’t just create a global stage for photographers across the globe, but also help them expand their audience and gain exposure in the industry.
