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Today the World Photography Organisation launches the 16th edition of the Sony World Photography Awards, welcoming you all to enter your best images or projects for free. Who knows, you could win the top prizes, have your work exhibited internationally and enjoy global recognition through promotion on the World Photography Organisation’s online platforms and some of the top media titles today. 

Supporting photographers from all over the world at different stages of their careers, the Awards embraces photography in all its forms through diverse categories and competitions to connect with its international community. So what are you waiting for? While you start preparing your submissions why not check out what’s new for 2023…
 

YOUTH 

The biggest change for the 2023 Awards is certainly in the Youth competition. Changing the format from monthly to one overall competition, entrants have from 1 June to 6 January (note the extended deadline this year!) to enter up to three images for free that respond to the theme ‘Your Everyday’. Entrants can interpret this in a variety of ways and through whatever genre that suits them best - from portraiture to landscape to street photography. 

Deadline is 6 January at 13:00 (GMT)
 

STUDENT    

The brief for this year’s Student competition is ‘In a Changing World’. For this year’s student competition we’re asking entrants to consider the theme In a Changing World. Submissions can be five to 10 images and highlight how the photographer, or someone they document, is responding to changes around them in a positive way. This could encapsulate a whole range of different topics; from the environment to technology, to the way we work and live. 

Deadline is 30 November at 13:00 (GMT)

PROFESSIONAL 

The competition that champions the photo project, the Professional competition is essentially the same as last year with a very exciting development for the overall winner. As well as winning $25,000, Sony digital imaging kit and inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards book and exhibition, Photographer of the Year will also enjoy a solo presentation of their work as part of the Sony World Photography London exhibition the following year. This opportunity will allow photographers to further develop their winning project or exhibit a brand new work, gaining additional exposure for their practice and advance their careers.  

This year we’re launching a brand new prize to recognise the stories, people and organisations whose actions highlight one of the United Nation’s environmental Sustainable Development Goals. These can include depictions of climate change, a spotlight on ecological technologies and innovations, or a celebration of individuals and groups working to make a difference. Set up to reward photographers passionate about communicating the planet’s biggest challenges, the winner of the Sustainability Prize receives a $5,000 cash prize and a presentation of their project as part of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 exhibition in London. Selected images from their project will also be included in the Sony World Photography Awards book.  

If you’re based in Latin America, your submission is also automatically entered into the Latin America Professional Award, an initiative set up by the World Photography Organisation and Sony Latin America three years ago to promote the excellent photographic work currently created in the region to a global audience. 

Deadline is 13 January 2023, 13:00 (GMT).  

OPEN 

Focused on rewarding striking images, the Open competition also sticks with the same categories, prizes and rules - don’t forget your entries must be taken in 2022! If you’re a female photographer then you’ll be delighted to know your submission will automatically be entered into the Alpha Female Award, a prize set up by the World Photography Organisation and Sony US to empower female photographic talent and promote their work to an international audience. 

Deadline is 6 January 2023, 13:00 (GMT). 
 

NATIONAL & REGIONAL AWARDS 

One of the Sony World Photography Awards’ most popular programmes is back for its 11th year running! All images entered into the Open competition by photographers based in countries registered for the National & Regional Awards are automatically considered. Check out the countries that have registered by clicking below. 

Based in Latin America? Take a read of our very special Latin America National Awards programme.

With more than 300 photographers acknowledged every year, what have you got to lose? Why not participate in one of the world’s largest and most prestigious photography competitions. All entries are judged anonymously by world-class industry-leading experts - stay tuned as the judging panel will be announced later this summer.