Winners of Sony World Photography awards revealed
<p>The winners for Sony’s World Photography awards have been revealed.</p>
<p>Photographers were chosen across various categories to showcase different subjects, compositions and perspectives worldwide.</p>
<p><strong>Photographer of the Year</strong></p>
<p>The photographer of the year award was given to Edgar Martins, an acclaimed photographer from Portugal.</p>
<p>Martin’s series of portraits, “Our War”, pays homage to his friend, photojournalist Anton Hammerl, who was killed during the Libyan Civil War in 2011.</p>
<p>"In 2011, my dear friend and the photojournalist, Anton Hammerl, travelled to Libya to cover the conflict between pro-regime and anti-Gaddafi forces. On 5 April he was forcefully abducted and killed by government militia. Frustrated by the lack of progress in the investigation to find his mortal remains, in 2022 I took matters into my own hands and travelled to Libya.”</p>
<p>Martins shared the story of his friend through a series of photographs.</p>
<p>"This previously unseen body of work is structured as a self-portrait of Anton Hammerl through the people he photographed and met, and others involved in the conflict (freedom fighters or their descendants, ex-militia, local residents, Gaddafi loyalists or lookalikes, and so on).”</p>
<p>Martins captured people in black and white or photo colours.</p>
<p>"They were selected because they resembled him, espoused similar ideas and beliefs, or reminded me of him at different stages of our friendship.”</p>
<p>His subjects were photographed alongside natural backgrounds across Libya.</p>
<p>"This project portrays a complex story, warped by absence, that talks of the difficulty of documenting, testifying, witnessing, remembering, honouring and imagining.”</p>
<p><strong>Architecture & Design</strong></p>
<p>The winner for Architecture & Design was Chinese photographer Li Fan.</p>
<p>Fan’s described their subject, an abandoned concrete factory in inland China.</p>
<p>"Tieshan Cement Factory is located in Guilin City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China.”</p>
<p>"The factory was built in 1996 and played an important role in Guilin's economic development and urban construction.”</p>
<p>"However, because it was originally located in the Li River Scenic Area of Guilin, the cement factory has now been relocated, leaving behind the old buildings, water towers, pools and railway tracks.”</p>
<p><strong>Creative</strong></p>
<p>The winner for the creative category was Lee-Ann Olwage from South Africa and she described her photo series “the right to play”.</p>
<p>"What do girls dream of? And what happens when a supportive environment is created where girls are empowered and given the opportunity to learn and dream? The Right to Play creates a playful world where girls are shown in an empowered and affirming way.”</p>
<p>Olwage took portraits of schoolgirls in Kenya.</p>
<p>"Worldwide, it is estimated that around 129 million girls are out of school and only 49 percent of countries have achieved gender parity in primary education, with the gap widening at secondary school level. Every day, girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms and practices such as FGM, poor infrastructure and violence."</p>
<p>The photo series asks what happens when a supportive environment is created where girls are given the opportunity to learn, dream and feel empowered.</p>
<p>"For this project, I worked with girls from Kakenya's Dream in Enoosaen, Kenya who have avoided FGM and child marriage, showing what the world can look like when girls are given the opportunity to continue learning in an environment that supports them and their dreams.”</p>
<p><strong>Documentary Projects</strong></p>
<p>Kinsella Cunningham was named winner of the documentary projects category for his series "The Women's Peace Movement in Congo”.</p>
<p>Her images showcase Peace activist Liberata Buratwa posing for a portrait in her garden at Rutshuru, Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, DRC.</p>
<p>"I have been working for peace since I was very young, she says. In 2008, at the height of a spate of massacres, Liberata led a delegation of women to meet Laurent Nkunda, the leader of CNDP. We told him, my son, rebellion will lead you nowhere, the bush is for the animals, not for the people.”</p>
<p><strong>Portfolio</strong></p>
<p>James Deavin was awarded the best portfolio for his vibrant series in the desert kingdom.</p>
<p>"This portfolio was shot in the first half of 2022 in Saudi Arabia, where I was based at the time.”</p>
<p>His series showcases the sunset side of the nation and its unique natural colour palate.</p>
<p>" Given more time, I think these pictures would have fallen into more defined projects or narratives, perhaps relating to the large migrant worker and expat population (of which I was part), or Saudi car culture.”</p>
<p>Deavin’s photographs aimed to shed light on the less-seen side of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>"As it is, I believe this collection shows my style and technique as a photographer – there is no deliberate connection between the images other than I was searching for special photographs that could eventually develop into projects.”</p>
<p><strong>Sport</strong></p>
<p>Al Bello was awarded the winner of the sport category.</p>
<p>"Kelsie Whitmore is the first female professional baseball player to play in an all-male pro league. She plays outfield and pitches for the Staten Island Ferryhawks in the Atlantic League of professional baseball."</p>
<p>"Whitmore posed for a photo in front of the New York Skyline on July 09, 2022 in Staten Island, New York. Whitmore was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game.</p>
<p>Her debut in the Atlantic League was as a pinch runner on 22 April 2022, and on 1 May she became the first woman to start an Atlantic League game, when she played as a left fielder.”</p>
<p>"Kelsie stands with her teammates before their game against the Long Island Ducks at Fairfield Properties Ballpark on July 07, 2022 in Central Islip, New York."</p>
<p>Bello titled their series "Female Pro Baseball Player Succeeds in All Male Pro League.”</p>
<p><strong>Environment</strong></p>
<p>The photo series that took out the environment category was shot in partnership between Federico Kaplan and Marisol Mendez.</p>
<p>"Miruku focuses on the Wayuus, an indigenous population from La Guajira, Colombia's coastal desert. Commissioned by 1854/British Journal of Photography and WaterAid, the project examines how a combination of climate change issues and human negligence have led its various members to experience a stifling water shortage.”</p>
<p>The two photographers have captured the struggle of Indigenous Colombian communities.</p>
<p>"In the region, the problem is cyclical and polymorphous. While some communities can achieve certain stability during rainy seasons, temperatures are bound to rise, drying up the land again. Global warming only aggravates this, causing droughts and famine, and spoiling the facilities and installations that help source clean water.”</p>
<p>"We framed the story from a female perspective to get a better understanding of how gender inequality and climate vulnerability interrelate. We sought to highlight the strength and resourcefulness of the Wayuu women, as we found it inspiring that, even under such conditions, they have established themselves as community leaders, teachers and climate activists.”</p>
<p><strong>Landscape</strong></p>
<p>Polish photographer Kacper Kowalski was the winner of the landscape category where he took to the sky to capture shorts of frozen lakes.</p>
<p>"At the start of winter, I set out on a journey in search of harmony. Driven by instinct, I ventured further and further until I passed the boundaries of rationality. Whether it was fog or snow, frost or thaw, I took to the sky to see if it was possible to fly.”</p>
<p>Kowalski’s series “Event Horizon”, was in black and white, and can be described as an otherworldly vision of ice and snow.</p>
<p>"Whether it was fog or snow, frost or thaw, I took to the sky to see if it was possible to fly. When I could, I flew over frozen bodies of water, fascinated by their icy forms. Between January and March, I made 76 solo flights in a gyrocopter or a motorised paraglider, covering around 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) and spending 200 hours in the air."</p>
<p>"My photographs were taken from a height of approximately 50-150 metres (165-495 feet) above bodies of water near Tricity in northern Poland.”</p>
<p><strong>Still Life</strong></p>
<p>Chinese photographer Zhang took out the top spot for the still life category with his series “The Sky Garden.”</p>
<p>"Landscape gardening is a practice dating back to ancient times; Nebuchadnezzar II of the Babylonian Empire built a garden complex in the sky for his homesick princess consort, which was known as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Sky Garden series takes its name from this history.”</p>
<p>Zhang captured images of plants, trees and various shrubs being transported by crane from near his home to recently developed suburbs around him.</p>
<p>"Three years ago I settled down in Wenjiang, and there is a tree nursery within walking distance of my home. Exotic trees and rocks from all over the world can be seen there, including Japanese black pines and maple trees.”</p>
<p><strong>Wildlife & Nature</strong></p>
<p>Corey Arnold won the category of wildlife and nature with his series, “Cities Gone Wild”.</p>
<p>Part of the series showcases coyotes roaming in San Francisco, California</p>
<p>"Bernal Heights Park is surrounded by city with no distinct wildlife corridor. Several pups were born to the resident pair in the spring. At least one pup is represented in these images."</p>
<p>Arnold’s series shows three animals, black bears, coyotes and racoons that have adapted to survive in a human built landscape while other animals are disappearing.</p>
<p>"I tracked these animals in cities across America to reveal a more intimate view of how wildlife is adapting to increased urbanization.”</p>
<p><strong>Student Photographer of the Year</strong></p>
<p>The student photographer of the year was awarded to Jing Long.</p>
<p>"Yunnan opera is an important branch of traditional Chinese opera, and one that reflects the colourful Yunnan ethnic multiculturalism of southwest China.”</p>
<p>The backstage realism highlights the work that goes into an art form from a bygone era.</p>
<p>"However, in today's fast-developing society, this regional drama is in decline, and is gradually being forgotten by most people.”</p>
<p>"There are only a few folk troupes remaining that represent Yunnan Quyi culture, and the average age of their members and audiences is increasing. This particular theatre is located along a small alley and charges just $1.50 for a ticket."</p>
<p><strong>Youth Photographer of the Year</strong></p>
<p>Wang Hai received the youth photographer of the year award for his unique geometric photo of chairs.</p>
<p>"The opening ceremony for this school in Tianjin, China, was scheduled for September 4, 2022, and more than 2,000 people were expected to attend. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic no one was there. The neat rows of brightly coloured chairs create a strong sense of order in this lonely photograph, where everything seems to be fake.”</p>
<p><strong>Natural World & Wildlife</strong></p>
<p>Dinorah Graue Obscura took out the top spot for her enrapturing black and white photograph depicting a pair of crested caracara birds in southern Texas.</p>
<p>"I think that a good picture does not need colour, it just needs to capture the desired moment in time. While I was shooting Crested Caracaras in flight in South Texas, I noticed these two, which were perched in a very similar way. They were staring in the same direction and not moving, almost as if they were posing for me. I was amazed by their powerful personalities.”</p>
<p><strong>Sustainability Prize</strong></p>
<p>Alessandro Cinique is the first-time winner of Sony’s sustainability prize.</p>
<p>The prize was developed in collaboration with the United Nations Foundation and Sony Pictures' Picture This initiative.</p>
<p>The series was entitled “Fog Nets’ and showcases the unlikely method Peruvians in Lima use to capture increasingly scarce water.</p>
<p>"After Cairo, Lima is the second city in the world to be built in a desert. In recent years, migration from rural Peru to Lima has increased significantly, but the people who manage to settle in Lima are typically very poor and their biggest problem is lack of water.”</p>
<p>The aim was to highlight an inspired solution to a crucial problem as well as showcasing extreme human endurance.</p>
<p>"One solution that gives them hope is fog nets. Consisting of two poles that support a nylon net with small holes in it, these nets can collect about 200 litres (53 gallons) of water per day. The founder of the project is Abel Cruz, who started work on it more than 20 years ago, when he left his home region of Cusco and came to Lima to live in a settlement where water was a luxury.</p>
<p>"According to Abel, there are now about 140 fog nets installed in Lima; this project aims to show how this artisanal method could help combat water shortages"</p>
<p><em>Image credit: Sony Photography Awards</em></p>
