SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023.
The Sony World Photography Awards is one of the largest and most prestigious photography competitions in the world. The Awards look at the best contemporary photography worldwide and the Awards offer the participating photographers international exposure and many career opportunities.
Sony supports the Awards to contribute to the further development of photography culture by providing a global platform for contemporary talent. Participation in the Awards is free and photographers are judged anonymously by a panel of leading judges.
The World Photography Organization recently announced the jury, prizes and exhibition elements of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023. This year’s prize will be $5,000 in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and a new solo presentation for Photographer of the Year.
From April 14 to May 1, 2023, this organization will return to Somerset House in London and showcase multiple exhibitions highlighting different photographers. The 2022 Awards exhibition will continue the international tour in 2022. The 2022 Awards will include the first-ever at the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego, California (October 8, 2022 – March 19, 2023) and Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool, UK (November 10 – December 11, 2022).
2023 JURY
The jury of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 includes a wide range of knowledge and expertise and has diverse photographic backgrounds:
Professional Competition
- Mariama Attah, Head of Exhibitions at Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, UK
- Tandazani Dhlakama, Assistant Curator at Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa
- Elisa Medde, Editor in Chief, FOAM Magazine, Netherlands
- Ioana Mello, Independent Curator and Photo Editor; Directing Member, FotoRio, Brazil
- Sujong Song, Independent Curator and Photo Editor; Co-Founder, Seoul Lunar Festival,
- Republic of Korea
- Mike Trow, Independent Curator and Photo Editor and Chair of the Jury
Open and Youth Competition
- Eric Schlosser, Art Director, Tbilisi Art Fair, Georgia
Student Competition
- Eliza Williams, Editor, Creative Review, UK
NEW IN 2023
Sustainability Award
This year, the World Photography Organization is launching a brand new award to celebrate stories, people and organizations whose actions promote one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It can be images of climate change, ecological technologies and innovations or a celebration of individuals and groups committed to making a difference in the world.
This sustainability award rewards the winning photographer with a $5,000 cash prize and a presentation of their project as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition in London. All photographers participating in the professional competition are eligible for this prize.
Photographer of the Year Solo presentation
In 2023, the Photography Organization will also introduce the new prize element for Photographer of the Year. In addition to the $25,000 cash prize, a composition of camera equipment from Sony, inclusion in the exhibition and the book of the Sony World Photography Awards, the winner will also be awarded a solo presentation of his work as part of the exhibition of the Sony World Photography Awards in London in the year 2024. This opportunity offers photographers the chance to further develop their winning project or showcase brand new work, gaining additional exposure and advancing their careers. The first of these presentations is dedicated to the work of Photographer of the Year 2022 Adam Ferguson (Australia) and will take place during the exhibition at Somerset House in April 2023. Youth Competition Format
Youth Photographer of the Year
The Sony World Photography Awards 2023 also introduces a new format for the youth competition: anyone under the age of 19 can enter and will be asked to submit up to three photos under the theme of Your Everyday. The jury selects a shortlist of 10 photographers to compete for the title Youth Photographer of the Year.
2023 EXHIBITION DATES AND 2022 INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES
In 2023, the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition will open from 14 April to 1 May 2023 at Somerset House, London.
After the exhibition in London and a later presentation in Tokyo, the World Photography Awards 2022 exhibition will travel to various international locations:
- Lenzburg, Switzerland, Lenzburg Photo Festival, August 27 – October 2, 2022
- Milan, Italy, Fondazione Stelline, September 14 – October 30, 2022
- Buenos Aires, Argentina, artexarte, September 27 – October 23, 2022
- San Diego, USA, Museum of Photographic Arts, October 8, 2022 – March 19, 2023
- Berlin, Germany, Willy-Brandt-Haus, October 21, 2022 – January 15, 2023
- Liverpool, UK, Open Eye, November 10 – December 11, 2022
2023 PRICES AND DEADLINES
The Sony World Photography Awards started on June 1, 2022. Full competition and category descriptions can be found at worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards
Deadlines for the four competitions of the Awards are:
- Professional: January 13, 2023, 13:00 GMT (Only 21 days left)
- Open: 6 January 2023, 13:00 GMT (Only 14 days left)
- Students: November 30, 2022, 13:00 GMT (Closed)
- Youth: January 6, 2023, 13:00 GMT (Only 14 days left)
All category winners of the professional, open, youth and student competitions will receive camera equipment from Sony. In addition, cash prizes of $25,000 (USD) will be awarded to the Photographer of the Year and $5,000 (USD) to the Open Photographer of the Year. The work of all the winning and shortlisted photographers will be exhibited at the annual Sony World Photography Awards exhibition in London and will then tour internationally. The winning photos are also published in the annual Awards book. The overall winners will be announced on April 13, 2023.
Youth Photographer of the Year 2022
In 2022, Ezra Bohm won the youth photographer of the year award. With this he won no less than €30,000 worth of Sony equipment for his school, The Dutch Academy for Image Creation.
Ezra searches for the meaning of ‘human identity’ in his photography. ‘Who are we?’ “What made us who we are?” “What kind of life has formed us?” “How can a trained mind help us on this journey?” To find an answer to this, Ezra photographs history, culture and tries to capture the spiritual consciousness of man.
