Established in 2007, the World Photography Organisation set out to raise awareness and level of conversation around photography worldwide. Each year, they provide a platform to Sony, which celebrates photographers’ works in over 50 countries and awards the Sony National & Regional prize. So far, the program has rewarded more than 500 photographers and is still counting. The prestigious and influential program is now in its ninth year and hand-picks the best single images from each of the countries entered and the winners are given Sony digital imaging equipment as well as plenty of global and local exposure. The initiative helps to support the artists working in the medium of photography and showcases their work. The World Photography Organisation arranges international exhibition tours and competitions, as well as contributes to collaborations and prestigious awards. Bored Panda is celebrating the photographers and their exquisite work and have connected with some of the winners. You can read about it below, as well as vote for your favorites on this list and let us know your impressions.
#1 Myanmar Winner: ‘Foggy Morning Fishing’, By Min Min Zaw
This scene shows a father and son catching fish early one winter morning. In Myanmar, children work with their parents to bring in an income for the whole family.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#2 Italy Winner: ‘Fox Portrait’, By Davide Giannetti
Following a hard rainfall in the National Park of Abruzzo, I spotted this wild red fox looking for food.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#3 Latvia Winner: ‘Glowing Mushroom’, By Janis Palulis
Light painting one evening in a Latvian forest
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#4 Japan 2nd Place: ‘Autumn Snake’, By Hiroki Nose
This is an aerial photograph of a mountain road in Hakone, Japan. The path, when seen from the sky, looked like a snake. Photographed in autumn, the leaves of the coloured trees were extremely beautiful.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#5 Austria Winner: ‘Horse Against Black Background’, By Michaela Steiner
I photographed this beautiful horse in the entrance to its stable, using only natural light and a black background.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#6 Indonesia Winner: ‘Poems For Sisters’, By Hardijanto Budyman
You are angels in disguise
Side by side or miles apart
Sisters will always be connected by the heart
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#7 Finland Winner: ‘Night’, By Matti Virtanen
I may not have managed to capture any meteors during the Perseids of 2020, but I did get this night shot, which is full of wonder. The exposure was 30 seconds long, and shot at ISO 4000, using a tripod.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#8 Greece Winner: ‘Foggy Farming’, By Thoedoros Apeiranthitis
At 1,003m, Mount Zas (or Zeus) dominates the Greek island of Naxos. One day in early April, I decided to make my way to the top. By the time I was halfway up, the fog had become so dense it completely obscured the base of the mountain, making me feel as if I was flying. I noticed a small herd of sheep grazing peacefully in this strange environment. I took a shot before moving on and becoming lost in the fog.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#9 Mexico Winner: ‘First Breath’, By Brian Mena Laureano
Sunrise on the slopes of the Popocatépetl volcano.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#10 Russian Federation Winner: ‘Silently In The Mountains’, By Evgeniy Ivanov
A home, immersed in complete silence, and forgotten about until spring.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#11 Thailand Winner: ‘Autumn Float’, By Saowanee Suntararak
Autumn season at Lake Kawaguchi in Japan.Mount Fuji with autumn leaves is very popular in the photographers, and I love taking photo in this season,too.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#12 United States Winner: ‘Hourglass’, By Patrick Mueller
A snaking dune in Death Valley meets the saddle of the surrounding mountains.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#13 Philippines Winner: ‘Looking For Water’, By Donell Gumiran
In Ethiopia’s South Omo, the tribes who live in the valley depend on the Omo River for survival. Sixty-two million Ethiopians lack access to safe water. This is everyday life for them.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#14 Bangladesh Winner: ‘Her Name Is Chandi ‘, By Sabbir Hossen
A portrait of a child working in a paddy field. She works alongside her parents as it allows her to continue her studies. Her passion was inspiring.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#15 India Winner: ‘Water Buffalo’, By Shreejit Borthakur
A beast from the forests of northeastern India.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#16 Bulgaria Winner: ‘Extraterrestrial Earth – Mars ‘ By Eniz Karadzha
This dam is usually full, but had dried up. Scenes such as this show the effects of climate change are becoming more obvious. After a couple of weeks spent studying the angle of the sun, not to mention a bit of luck, I managed to take the image I’d hoped for.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#17 Lithuania Winner: ‘Traditional Crafts: Portrait Of A Toymaker’, By Simas Bernotas
Ancient crafts are imbued with the wisdom of previous generations, with each nation having its own tales and myths about them. For this series, I captured Lithuanian crafters with a mystical spirit in an attempt to show them as devoted caretakers of declining traditions. This image is one of many from that project.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#18 Taiwan Winner: ‘Fluorescent Tiger’, By Hui Pin Lai
The tiger is an important symbol in Taiwanese culture. Here, I used fluorescent paint to depict its essence.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#19 Croatia Winner: ‘Driving Through The Ice Forest’, By Tomislav Veic
After the first snowfall towards the end of 2020, I took my camera to the largest old-growth forest in Croatia. This road runs through it.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#20 Serbia Winner: ‘Serbia’s Red Gold Pepper Harvest’, By Vladimir Zivojinovic
An elderly woman prepares threads of red paprika in Donja Lokosnica, Serbia. In this village in a valley in South Morava, some 250 of the 280 households are involved in the growing of pepper – although depopulation means this number is in decline. Around 500 tons of ground pepper is produced in a 250-hectare area.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#21 Poland Winner: ‘The Moon Girl’, By Kamila J. Gruss
The dark side of social media where everyone seems to be happy
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#22 Japan Winner: ‘The Last Winter’, By Yukihito Ono
Photographed in Fukushima, Japan, this train – known as Ki-Ha 40 – was retired from the Tadami Line on 11 March, 2020.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#23 Slovakia Winner: ‘On His Own Path’, By Peter Svoboda
A lone cross-country skier ascends a hill. I wanted to capture a minimal winter image that had symbolism and suggested a parallel with human life.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#24 Viet Nam Winner: ‘Waiting’, By Tuan Nguyen Quang
This photograph was taken in Ha Giang, Vietnam. I went into a house in the village and asked permission to take pictures there.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#25 Egypt Winner: ‘The Mevlevi Dancer’, By Abdelhamid Fawzy Tahoun
Tanoura is an Egyptian dance, performed in circular motions, which has its spiritual origins in Sufism. Its performers believe that all movement in the universe starts and ends at the same point, so this is reflected in the dance, with the continuous spinning making them appear like planets moving in space.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#26 New Zealand Winner: ‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’, By Murray Chant
This piece of ice had rolled around in the shallows until it assumed a worn and organic form. I photographed it at dusk and lit it from below.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#27 Malaysia Winner: ‘Long-Tailed Macaque’, By Yoganathan Yoke
This photograph of a long-tailed macaque, also known as the crab-eating macaque, was taken in the mangrove forest of Kuala Gula, Perak. I went there one evening, hoping to photograph birds or snakes, when I saw a group of macaques foraging in the mud for their last meal of the day. A ray of light from the sunset fell on this macaque just as it looked up. I felt it looked like a gesture of hope for the future.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#28 Turkey Winner: ‘Astroturf’, By Mehmet Aslan
The pandemic has affected everyone. Since places of worship are closed, these men pray on the Astroturf pitch, while adhering to social distancing.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#29 Cambodia Winner: ‘I Miss You’, By Sean Channal
This used to be the place where an audience would relieve their stresses and share their excitement, but since the Covid-19 outbreak, everything has changed. The theatre is now silent and lonely. One day, I hope, things will return to normality.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
#30 Sri Lanka Winner: ‘Hustle For Survival’, By Isira Sooriyaarachchi
On a weekday in August, while I was wandering along Main Street, Colombo, this man caught my attention among the crowds of people and busy traffic. I crossed to the middle of the road and pulled out my phone to capture the life of a worker doing his best to survive during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Image source: Sony World Photography Awards
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