With categories for both professional and amateur photographers, the Sony World Photography Awards is one of the world’s largest photographic events. The awards are a platform for both established and emerging photographers and in 2009 the competition attracted over 60,000 entrants from 139 different countries.
The competition for professional photographers incorporates 12 categories across three genres – commercial, fine art and photojournalism/documentary. The overall winner will take the coveted L’Iris D’Or title together with $25,000 (USD) along with Sony camera equipment. The 36 category finalists will then be exhibited in galleries across the world as part of the Sony World Photography Awards Global Tour throughout 2010 and 2011.
Introduction
New for the 2010 awards, a documentary category has been introduced for amateur photographers. Whether documenting a person, place or current issue, the category is looking for an image which captures momentous occurrences of every day life. From the nine categories, one photographer will be chosen as the Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year and win a grand prize of $5,000 (USD) and Sony camera equipment.
The Sony World Photography Awards is supported by the World Photographic Academy. It includes nearly 100 of the world’s leading photographers including Elliott Erwitt, Mary-Ellen Mark, Susan Meiselas, Bruce Davidson and Tom Stoddart; gallery owners; representatives of international photo agencies; international Guilds; photo editors; critics and publishers. The judging panel for the competition will comprise of members of the World Photographic Academy and will be announced later this year.
Objective
Submit up to a total of 3 photographs as amateur or 10 photographs per category as a professional, in the selected categories:
Prizes (for professional entries)
Winner of “L’iris d’Or” – Best overall photograph will receive:
- Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of The Year”
- $25,000
- Entry into the “World Photographic Academy”
- Exhibition showcase of winning image and 25 picture portfolio at the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards
- Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’ website and promoted to creatives worldwide
- Flights to Cannes, and 2 nights accommodation in a hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010
- Sony Gift
Winners of each individual category will receive:
- Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards category name Photographer of The Year”
- Flights to Cannes, and 2 nights accommodation in a hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010
- Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’website and promoted to creatives
- Sony Gift
Prizes (for amateur entries)
Winner of the Best overall photograph will receive:
- Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of The Year”
- $5,000
- Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’ website and promoted to creatives worldwide
- to Cannes, and 2 nights accommodation in a hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010
- Sony Gift
Winners of each individual category will receive:
- Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards Amateur category name Photographer of The Year”
- Exhibited in the Winner’s Exhibition and published in the Winner’s Book
- Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’website and promoted to creatives
- Sony Gift
