Stunning examples of colour, texture, vibrancy and movement are key components among the winners of the Sony World Photography Awards.
To mark its 19th edition, the competition judge, Ruby Rees-Sheridan, Assistant Photography Curator, at Britain's National Portrait Gallery, chose pictures taken in the past year across 10 categories: Architecture, Creative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Motion, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography and Travel.
According to the organisers, each single shot was judged on its "power to pique curiosity, spark imagination, and reveal a wider narrative."
More than 430,000 thousand entries were received from over 200 countries.
The Open Photographer of the Year will be revealed on 16 April at a gala ceremony in London, presented with a €4,000 cash prize and a range of Sony camera equipment.
Check out the winners in each category:
Architecture
An image of a paper mill in Obbola, Sweden, surrounded by layers of shadows, concrete, and clouds on a dark November night. (An image of a paper mill in Obbola, Sweden, surrounded by layers of shadows, concrete, and clouds on a dark November night.)
Creative
For Lost Hope: a carefully composed portrait, using staged and symbolic elements in a poignant ode to Iranian women. (For Lost Hope: a carefully composed portrait, using staged and symbolic elements in a poignant ode to Iranian women.)
Landscape
Shapes and Patterns of the Desert: A study of the geometric composition and the rich, warm colours of the Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia. (Shapes and Patterns of the Desert: A study of the geometric composition and the rich, warm colours of the Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia.)
Lifestyle
Portrait of Charlotte and Dolly, depicting a young woman and her cow, resting together in a barn to keep cool in summer heat in West Virgin (Portrait of Charlotte and Dolly, depicting a young woman and her cow, resting together in a barn to keep cool in summer heat in West Virgin)
Motion
Franklin Littlefield took this motion blur shot of a punk concert in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, capturing the dynamism of the moment. (Franklin Littlefield took this motion blur shot of a punk concert in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, capturing the dynamism of the moment.)
Natural World & Wildlife
Braving the elements: A blue arctic fox in the Varager Peninsula of Norway is caught alone in blizzard of snow. (Braving the elements: A blue arctic fox in the Varager Peninsula of Norway is caught alone in blizzard of snow.)
Object
Colour Divides depicts the juxtaposition of a blue car against bright green and pink buildings of the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood in South Africa's Cape Town. (Colour Divides depicts the juxtaposition of a blue car against bright green and pink buildings of the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood in South Africa's Cape Town.)
Portraiture
The Barefoot Volcanologist: A portrait of Phillip, an internationally recognised, self-taught volcano scientist, standing atop a volcanic rock (The Barefoot Volcanologist: A portrait of Phillip, an internationally recognised, self-taught volcano scientist, standing atop a volcanic rock)
Street Photography
Between the Lines: A candid, comedic black-and-white photograph of a family at Ørnevegen, Norway. (Between the Lines: A candid, comedic black-and-white photograph of a family at Ørnevegen, Norway.)
Travel
Japan's lively Abare Festival where men leap into the river as torches blaze, is a traditional celebration passed down through generations. (Japan's lively Abare Festival where men leap into the river as torches blaze, is a traditional celebration passed down through generations.)
A selection of winning and shortlisted images will be shown as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House from 17 April - 4 May 2026, and will then travel to other locations.
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