Visionary World

The 2017 Sony World Photography Awards shortlist has been revealed, and it features 18 British photographers. This year’s prize garnered a total of 227,000 image submissions from 183 countries, with 49 nationalities reaching the shortlist across the Professional, Open and Student Focus competitions. The jury for the award’s 10th edition has included a further 24 UK photographers in its top 50 photographers across all categories. All of the images selected for the prize reflect upon aspects of modern life, from urban living to the natural world.

In the Professional competition, eight British artists have been recognised for strong bodies of work comprised of 5-10 images. Will Burrard-Lucas offers an insight into the nocturnal lives of African wildlife and Michael Tummings gives a close examination of hunting. Meanwhile, Grant Hegedus provides witty photographic food puns, and Felicity McCabe draws influence from colourful specimens in the Natural History Museum. Kurt Tong looks at Chinese people outside of China struggling with their identity, and Craig Easton has captured the aspirations and fears of 16-year-olds in his portrait series.

The Open competition, which rewards the best single image across 10 categories, features a further eight British photographers. Nigel Hodson captures a stunning shot of a puffin on Skomer Island, Wales, while Jimmy Reid submits a motion shot of his fish. In Architecture, Robert Walker showcases the View from Switch House at Tate Modern, London, and Tim Cornbill and Barry Tweed-Rycroft use Berlin and Phoenix Arizona for their inspiration. Harry Botley recontextualises traditional landscape, and Carl Jeffers and Tim Topple offer beautiful portraiture examples.

Lastly, the Student Focus competition, which asked students worldwide to respond to the theme of Memories, features two photographers from British universities. Ruby Haunt, currently at Nottingham Trent University, was shortlisted for her image The Valley. Taken in the yard outside of her flat, the image was created as part of an ongoing project exploring memories of childhood. Stewart Main’s shortlisted image Fort Badass, reflects upon childhood memories of owning a very private space. Main studies at Edinburgh Napier University and his work focuses on portraiture and creative still life.

All shortlisted photographers have been ranked in the top 10 of their categories. They will now compete to win their categories and the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards’ Photographer of the Year title. The winning, shortlisted and commended works will all be shown at the Sony World Photography Awards & Martin Parr – 2017 Exhibition at Somerset House, London. The exhibition will include rarely seen work by Parr, who is the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize.

The Open competition winner will be announced on 28 March, while the Professional and Student Focus recipients will be revealed on 20 April at a special awards ceremony in London.

Sony World Photography Awards & Martin Parr – 2017 Exhibition, 21 April-7 May, Somerset House, London.

View the entire shortlist: www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards.

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Credits
1. Tim Cornbill, Open, Architecture, 2017. Shortlist, Sony World Photography Awards.