A few days ago, we took the Eurostar to London to attend one of the world’s most important photo events: the Sony World Photography Awards 2013.
The World Photography Awards, created by the World Photography Organisation (WPO) and sponsored by Sony, were inaugurated in 2007. The WPO supports professional, amateur and student photographers, and provides a global platform for the photography industry to communicate, converge and showcase current trends in photojournalism, fine art and commercial photography. By offering this global community a variety of initiatives and programs, the WPO engages the photographer in commercial, cultural and educational activities within the many sectors of photography, while creating cultural activities for the general public. The WPO’s current portfolio also includes the World Photography Student Focus competition, World Photo international festivals and events, and the World Photography Focus Programme.
For this record-breaking year, 122,000 photographs were received from 170 countries. The judges pre-selected the work of a number of photographers who stood out for their quality, originality and modernism. A wide range of themes were covered, from haunting images of the Syrian conflict to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, from an intimate report on Kabul’s film buffs to the funny and unusual treasures of the animal kingdom. A wide and varied selection that touched, moved and sometimes shocked us.
Bringing together the very best in international contemporary photography, this selection of images sheds new light on 2012, through the eyes of the world’s finest young talents and professional photographers. Regular contributors include Javier Arcenillas (Spain), Robin Hammond (New Zealand) and Paolo Pellegrin (Italy). Promising young talents taking part for the first time include Ed Kashi (USA) and Andrea Gjestvang (Norway).
“The World Photography Organisation is dedicated to finding the best in international contemporary photography,” said Astrid Merget, Creative Director, World Photography Organisation. “This selection clearly illustrates the current photographic effervescence and, as every year, we look forward to presenting the selected photographers to the world.”
The work of the selected photographers is on show from April 26 to May 12 at London’s Somerset House, as part of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. These images will also be published in the 2013 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards catalog.
The winners of the Professional competition and the winner of the prestigious “L’Iris d’Or du Photographe de l’année Sony World Photography Awards” were announced at a gala ceremony in which we took part.
The winners are:
Architecture – Fabrice Fouillet, France
Fabrice_Fouillet,_France,_1st_Place,_Architecture,_Professional_Competition,_2013_(2)
Fabrice_Fouillet,_France,_1st_Place,_Architecture,_Professional_Competition,_2013_(2)
Arts and Culture – Myriam Meloni, Italy
A Ford Fairlane from 1972, transformed into a limousine, wanders around the streets of Buenos Aires.
The twins Laura and Belén on the day of their birthday celebration.In Latin America, the celebration of the fifteenth birthday of a teenager is very important because it marks the transition from childhood to maturity. Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2011.
A luxury emblem used to transport politicians and rock stars in the ’80s, nowadays the limousine turned into an icon of the Argentinean popular culture.
Brides in their white dresses, television starlets, fifteen years old celebrating their birthdays, and future husbands: they all share the same sensation of sitting one night on an electric blue Ford Fairlane from 1972.
“Limousine porteña,” explores a limited space in which many diverse things can happen. Between drunken, striptease, tears and laughter, the limousine is transformed into the scenario of ordinary people that use the dark tinted windows to release their fantasies and their transgression, under the curiosity of passersby. Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2011.
Campaign – Christian Åslund, Sweden
Advertise campaign for the shoe brand Jim Rickey.
Project: Honkey Kong – a 2d platform game perspective of the city. Shot on location in Hong Kong.
Photographer and Creative Director: Christian Aslund
Project Manager: Metecman
Photo Assistent: Loa Bie
Advertise campaign for the shoe brand Jim Rickey.
Project: Honkey Kong – a 2d platform game perspective of the city. Shot on location in Hong Kong.
Photographer and Creative Director: Christian Aslund
Project Manager: Metecman
Photo Assistent: Loa Bie
Conceptual – Roman Pyatkovka, Ukraine
Roman_Pyatkovka,_Ukraine,_1st_Place,_Conceptual,_Professional_Competition,_2013_(2)
Roman_Pyatkovka,_Ukraine,_1st_Place,_Conceptual,_Professional_Competition,_2013_(1)
Contemporary Issues – Valerio Bispuri, Italy
Valerio_Bispuri_Italy_1st_place_Contemporary_Issues_Professional_Competition_2013(2)
Valerio_Bispuri_Italy_1st_place_Contemporary_Issues_Professional_Competition_2013_(1)
Current Affairs – Ilya Pitalev, Russia
Ilya_Pitalev,_Russian_Federation,_1st_Place,_Current_Affairs,_2013_Sony_World_Photography_Awards_(1)_copy
Ilya_Pitalev,_Russian_Federation,_1st_Place,_Current_Affairs,_2013_Sony_World_Photography_Awards_(2)_copy
Fashion – Klaus Thymann, Denmark
Klaus_Thymann,_Denmark,_1st_Place,_Fashion_&_Beauty,_Professional_Competition_2013_(2)
Klaus_Thymann,_Denmark,__1st_Place,_Fashion_&_Beauty,_Professional_Competition_2013
Landscape – Nenad Saljic, Croatia
Nenad_Saljic,_Croatia,_1st_Place,_Landscape,_Professional_Competition_2013_(2)
Nenad_Saljic,_Croatia,_1st_Place,_Landscape,_Professional_Competition_2013_(1)
Lifestyle – Alice Caputo, Italy
Alice_Caputo,_Italy,__1st_Place,__Lifestyle,_Professional_Competition,_2013_(2)
Alice_Caputo,_Italy,__1st_Place,__Lifestyle,_Professional_Competition,_2013_(1)
Nature & Wildlife – Satoru Kondo, Japan
Satoru_Kondo,_Japan,_1st_Place,_Nature_&_Wildlife,_Professional_Competition_2013_(2)
Satoru_Kondo,_Japan,_1st_Place,_Nature_&_Wildlife,_Professional_Competition_2013_(1)
People – Andrea Gjestvang, Norway
One Day in History
Portraits of children and youths who survived the massacre on the island of Utoeya outside Oslo (NO) on 22nd of July 2011.
“I bear my scares with dignity, because I got them standing for something I believe in.”
Ylva Schwenke (15) from Tromsø hid by a path called “The love path”. She was shot in the shoulder, her stomach and in both of her thighs.
Photo: Andrea Gjestvang/Moment
One Day in History
Portraits of children and youths who survived the massacre on the island of Utoeya outside Oslo (NO) on 22nd of July 2011.
“In the period after Utøya I had a really hard time sleeping. I was afraid of the dark and suffered from dreadful nightmares. My mom and I decided that getting a dog might help me, so I got Athene. Now she sleeps on top of my stomach every night.”
Iselin Rose Borch (15) from Grong was hiding behind a rock by the pump house on the island. She was rescued by tourists in a boat.
Photo: Andrea Gjestvang/Moment
Portraiture – Jens Juul, Denmark
Six degrees of Copenhagen
Six degrees of Copenhagen
Sport – Adam Pretty, Australia
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 25: Melissa Wu of Australia practices during a diving training session ahead of the London Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre in Olympic Park on July 25, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Usain Bolt of Jamaica races ahead of Ryan Bailey of the United States, Yohan Blake of Jamaica, Justin Gatlin of the United States and Tyson Gay of the United States to win the Men’s 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Still Life – Vanessa Colareta, Peru
Vanessa_Colareta,_Peru,_1st_Place,_Still_Life,_Professional,_2013_(2)
Vanessa_Colareta,_Peru,_1st_Place,_Still_Life,_Professional,_2013_(1)
Travel – Gali Tibbon, Israel
A ray of light penetrates into the church from a cross-shaped window as a pilgrim walks by.
Every year, just before Christmas day (Julian calendar) thousands of pious Christian orthodox worshippers make pilgrimage to Lalibela, a small town in Ethiopia’s highlands, known as Jerusalem of Africa or Black Jerusalem. Lalibela is famous for its 13th century monolithic churches, carved out of the living rock and one of the world’s great wonders.
Pilgrims gather to watch as an infertile worshipper is lowered into a baptism pool with a rope held by priests; according to local faith the holy water has fertility powers that will allow her to conceive.
Every year, just before Christmas day (Julian calendar) thousands of pious Christian orthodox worshippers make pilgrimage to Lalibela, a small town in Ethiopia’s highlands, known as Jerusalem of Africa or Black Jerusalem. Lalibela is famous for its 13th century monolithic churches, carved out of the living rock and one of the world’s great wonders.
Open Photographer of the Year – Hoang Hiep Nguyen, Vietnam
Hoang_Hiep_Nguyen,_Vietnam,_Open_Photographer_of_the_Year,_2013
Student Focus Photographer of the Year – Natalia Wiernik, Poland
Natalia_Wiernik,_Poland,_Student_Focus_Photogrpaher_of_the_Year,_2013
Natalia_Wiernik,_Poland,_Student_Focus_Photogrpaher_of_the_Year,_2013_(2)
Youth Photographer of the Year – Alecsandra Dragoi, Romania
Alecsandra_Raluca_Dragoi,_Romania,_Youth_Photographer_of_the_Year,_2013
2013 Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards winners
Best Photography Book Award – War / Photography: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath by Anne Wilkes Tucker, Will Michels and Natalie Zest (Yale University Press)
Best Moving Image Book Award – Hollywood Costume by Deborah Nadoolman Landis (V&A Publishing)
The “Outstanding Contribution to Photography” honorary award went to William Eggleston, pioneer of color photography.
The Sony World Photography Awards Golden Iris for Photographer of the Year went to Andrea Gjestvang for her poignant series on the survivors of the massacre on Utoeya Island near Oslo.
Coming soon on Luxsure: interviews with the French winners.
Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
