Arts

Landscapes, Customs, and Culture Shape the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards — Colossal

March 11, 2025
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Nearly half a million images were submitted to this year’s Sony World Photography Awards, organized by the World Photography Organisation, marking another highly competitive, awe-inspiring selection of moments captured across the globe. Now in its 18th year, more than 419,000 contributions rolled in from more than 200 countries.

The photos shown here are all entries in the Open competition, which invites amateur image-makers from around the world to submit their best compositions. Additional contest streams, for which many of these images are also considered, highlight the work of professionals, students, specific regions, women, and youth.

a group of people gather in front of a colorful, mostly green building set against a blue sky with puffy clouds
Winner, Travel: Matjaž Šimic, Slovenia, “Ask a Shaman.” Shamans play a major role in Native Bolivian traditional culture, La Paz, Bolivia

From dramatic landscapes to cultural customs to one-of-a-kind travel experiences, the winning and shortlisted photos capture beautiful and diverse ecosystems, locations, and traditions. The contest “celebrates the ability of an individual photograph to capture and distill a singular moment, and to evoke a broader narrative,” says a statement.

The overall winner of the Open Photographer of the Year will be announced on April 16 in London, where the 2025 exhibition opens at Somerset House and runs from April 17 to May 5. Explore all of the top shots on the awards’ website.

a hunter on horseback in the Mongolian landscape, holding a golden eagle
Shortlist, Travel: Khai Chuin Sim, Malaysia, “Wings of Tradition.” This pair of Kazakh eagle hunters was photographed in the vast and rugged landscape of western Mongolia. Clad in intricately detailed fur garments, they sit atop sturdy horses, with golden eagles perched majestically on their arms
an aerial view of two people in straw hats drying red incense, sitting in a pathway and arranging the bundles so that they look like flowers from above
Shortlist, Travel: Chim Oanh, Vietnam, “Incense Flowers.” Workers dry colorful incense before taking it to sell at the market
pink plum trees in full bloom drop their petals onto the ground
Shortlist, Landscape: Yoshiaki Kudo, Japan, “Blossoms in a Dreamscape.” Weeping plum trees in full bloom
a photo of a group of people pushing a large pile of straw onto the top of a large, colorful motorbike
Shortlist, Lifestyle: Syed Mahabubul Kader, Bangladesh, “Paddy Straw.” A group of workers unloads paddy straw from a truck. The rice straw is a by-product of farming that is used for a variety of purposes, including as cattle feed and fuel
an aerial view of a dramatic geological formation in the Utah desert of a butte and numerous raised striations in the rock
Shortlist, Landscape: XiaoYing Shi, China Mainland, “Ground Vein.” Aerial view of Factory Butte, Utah
two alpacas with pompoms around their necks stand in the foreground of Peru's Rainbow Mountain, with numerous colorful striations caused by minerals and ochres in the soil
Shortlist, Travel: Kunal Gupta, India. “The Colours of the Andes.” Set against the backdrop of Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, two elegantly adorned alpacas stand as symbols of the rich Andean culture and the timeless bond between humans and nature
a man sits inside of a visually overwhelming selection of electronics and items available for purchase
Winner, Lifestyle: Hajime Hirano, Japan, “Akihabara.” The prototype of today’s Akihabara was a gathering of street vendors selling parts for radios. After the late 1950s, during a period of rapid economic growth, Akihabara grew into “Japan’s largest electronics town.” Today, it is famous worldwide for its anime and cosplay culture
a bolt of lightning strikes over an erupting volcano at night in Chile
Shortlist, Landscape: Francisco Negroni, Chile, “The Lord of Volcanoes.” Villarrica is the most dangerous volcano in Chile and one of the most active in America; its last eruption occurred in 2015. In this photograph a strong electrical storm can be seen over the volcano, while the crater is illuminated by the lava pit
women jump over a fire in Portugal in celebration of the Feast of St. Martin
Shortlist, Street Photography: Angela Magalhães, Portugal, “Feast of St. Martin.” The Magusto festival in the city of Braga is celebrated not only by eating chestnuts and drinking ‘água-pé’ (a traditional Portuguese spirit) but also by dancing, singing, and jumping the bonfire where the chestnuts are roasted
an overview of a floating market on a lake in Myanmar, with long boats full of fruits and other foods
Shortlist, Travel: Arun Saha, India, “Floating Market of Myanmar.” Early in the morning, hundreds of vendors come to sell everyday necessities to both local consumers and tourists at Myanmar’s Inle Lake
men on horseback ready for a competitive game, with the angle of the camera set down low to emphasize the horses' hooves
Shortlist, Travel: Akram Menari, Algeria, “Get Ready!” The intricate details of the horse’s hoof emphasize its strength and poise; the hoof appears taut and ready for action, perfectly in sync with the rider preparing to engage in the equestrian sport. The photograph was taken just before a game began

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