Every year this photo competition attracts more and more participants from all over the world: last year more than 105,000 photos were submitted, and in 2012 the jury assessed more than 112,000 works made by participants from 171 countries – a record number to date. It’s nice to say that by the number of participants America takes the honorable 4th place among all countries!
© Mitch Dobrowner
(Mitch Dobrowner , USA. Winner of the “Photographer of the Year” category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Mattia Vacca, Italy. Finalist in the art and culture category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Peter Franck, Germany. Winner of a professional contest in the Fashion category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
The annual Sony World Photography Awards ceremony was held in London on April 26, 2012.
The event, which was previously held at Cannes’s Palais des Festivals, is being held in London for the second time. The awards ceremony was attended by leading figures in the international photographic community, including Ed Vaizey, Britain’s Minister of Culture, who championed the development of photography in his country.
Sponsored by Sony, the World Photography Awards have been run by the World Photography Organisation WPO since 2007. WPO supports professional and amateur photographers as well as photography students. Sony World Photography Awards is recognized as one of the major international events of the year in the world of photography.
Every year the competition attracts an ever-increasing number of entrants from all over the world: last year more than 105,000 photos were submitted, while in 2012 the Jury evaluated more than 112,000 entries from 171 countries – a record number to date. It is pleasant to note that by the number of participants America takes the honorable 4th place among all countries!
Popularity of the contest is due to its democratic character. Another benefit is the large number of nominations, allowing you to showcase work made in different genres. Both professional photographers professional competition and amateurs open competition , as well as photography students student competition can enter the competition. The Open Competition is open to all individuals with an interest in photography, but only if they present one of their own images.
The wide range of categories gives each photographer a chance to express himself or herself in the genre that suits him or her best. In 2012, for the first time the Sony World Photography Awards competition was held for young photographers under the age of 20. Also, for the first time there was a new 3D video contest with two categories: 3D Panoramic and 3D Still.
The work of SWPA 2012 was judged by a competent jury of nine judges.
The President of the Jury was chosen Wu. m. Hunt W. M. Hunt , New York photography enthusiast, collector, curator, and consultant. His collection of photographs served as the basis for the book The Unseen Eye: Photographs from the Unconscious, published by Thames & Hudson in UK and Aperture Publishers in USA. The most interesting works from his collection were exhibited at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York, at the Rencontres d’Arles at the Musée Muséeé e de l’Elysé e in Lausanne and at the FOAM_Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam in Amsterdam. Hunt has previously been a judge on a number of photo contests, including World Press Photo, SWPA, Prix Pictet and Getty Images.
So far, participants from America have not been awarded the title of “Photographer of the Year” in any of the SWPA categories. This year might have been an exception: Sergey Kolyaskin was short-listed for three categories in the competition for young photographers under 20 years old: Culture, Portrait, and Environment. Then he was declared the winner in the Culture category by the jury, and at a ceremony in London on 26 April he was declared best photographer under the age of 20. However, two weeks later it turned out that Sergey had stated his age incorrectly, he is actually 26 years old.
Inevitable disqualification followed. As a result, the only American winner of SWPA 2012 was Natalia Belentsova, who was recognized as the best in the “Lack of Light” category of the open competition.
American photographer Mitch Dobrowner wins the prestigious L’Iris d’Or award for Photographer of the Year. In addition to a $25,000 prize and a Sony DSLR, Mitch Dobrowner, like past winners Alejandro Chaskielberg, Tommaso Ausili, David Zimmerman and Vanessa Winship, was awarded membership in the World Photography Academy.
Amateur Photographer of the Year in the new Fraction of a Second category went to Tobias Breuning for his innovative image Dancing Queen. He was inspired to make this work by an image of simple water drops he saw on one of the German forums dedicated to DSLR cameras. A 29-year-old computer programmer from Germany won a $5,000 cash prize and a Sony DSLR.
Assef Ali Mohammad, from Middlesex University, UK, won the Student Focus competition, where students from over 200 institutions on six continents competed. His series of photographs of teenagers in Kabul was judged the best of all the entries and won Middlesex University €45,000 and Sony digital imaging equipment.
Karina Sembe Ukraine was the best in the competition for young photographers under 20 years old after Sergey Kolyaskin was disqualified.
Here are the winners in all major categories of SWPA 2012
WINNERS OF THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOJOURNALISM AND DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Topical Events
Donald Weber, Canada. VII PHOTO
Controversial issues of modernity
Kasia Bielska, Poland
People
Simon Norfolk, UK
Sports
Palmer + Pawel, UK
Art and culture
Rob Hornstra, Netherlands
Nature and animals
Jacek Kusz, Poland
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Peter Franck, Germany. Bü ro stoltenhoff
Travels
Luis Henry Agudelo Cano, Colombia
Fashion
Peter Franck, Germany
ART PHOTOGRAPHY
Architecture
David Airob, Spain
Portrait
Irina Werning, Argentina
Landscape
Mitch Dobrowner, USA
Still Life
Winner: Helen Thompson, UK
Conceptual photo
Manuel Geerinck, Belgium
OPEN COMPETITION WINNERS
Architecture: Filippo Di Rosa, Italy.
Art and Culture: Sanket K, India.
Increase: Victor Vargas Villafuerte, Mexico.
Lack of Light: Natalia Belentsova, America.
Nature and animals: Giovanni Frescura, Italy.
Panorama: Denise Worden, United States.
People: Ana Gregorič, Slovenia.
Smile: Piotr Stasiuk, Poland.
Fraction of a second: Tobias Breuning Tobias Brä (uning , Germany.
Journey: Krzysztof Browko, Poland.
The award for outstanding contribution to the development of photography went to the legendary photographer William Klein, one of the most famous and influential photographers and filmmakers of the 20th century.
William Klein, born in New York, studied painting with Fernard Léger in the 1950sé ger in Paris. After meeting Alexander Liberman of American Vogue magazine, who noticed Klein and offered him a job, William returned to New York at the age of 25, where he worked for a time as a photographer for fashion magazines and kept a photo diary about New York. But American publishers were not overly fond of Klein’s grainy, contrasting and blurry images, and Klein returned to Paris where his album Life is Good and Good For You in New York was soon published, winning the Nadar Prize in 1957. That same year, Klein met with film director Fellini, who invited him to participate in the filming of “Nights of Cabiria” in Rome. His 1960 Rome photo book was followed in 1964 by the albums of New York and Tokyo. Klein’s use of high-grain film and wide-angle photography shocked the traditional photographic public and gave him a reputation as an “anti-photographer”.
Marcus Bury of the HackelBur Gallery, in charge of organizing an exhibition of Klein’s work in London, says:
“William Klein is a genius who has played the greatest role in film, photography, and the art of graphic arts and has become one of the greatest driving forces of the 20th and 21st centuries. William’s work was full of innovative ideas and had a huge influence on a lot of people who followed Klein’s example in their art. His professional achievements are certainly worthy of an award. Klein’s work, his documentaries and feature films, anarchic, full of satire and political commentary, his photographs of cities and fashion shows still inspire designers, photographers, filmmakers and artists today. Never one to avoid controversy or confrontation, William Klein is a true master, artist and creator.”.
Klein’s career has spanned more than half a century. He is now 83 years old and lives and works in France.
From October 10, 2012 to January 27, 2013, the Tate Modern in London will host a major exhibition of works by William Klein.
1 June 2012. Submissions are now being accepted for the new Sony World Photography Awards 2013.
Entry is free. All entries must have been made in 2012. Photographers may enter either the professional or open competition, but not both simultaneously. All entry requirements and conditions for the competition are available at worldphoto.org.
© Sanket Khuntale, India. Winner of the open prize in the Arts & Culture category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Natalia Belentsova, America. Winner of the Open Photo Contest in the “Lack of Light” category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Giovanni Frescura, Italy. Winner of the open prize in the Nature category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Asef Ali Mohammad, UK, Middlesex University. Winner in Student Focus. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2012
© Jacek Kuszcz, Poland. Winner of the professional competition in the Nature category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Krzysztof Browko, Poland. Winner of the open prize in the travel category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Karina Sembe, Ukraine. Winner of the Young Photographers Competition. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Tobias Breuning Tobias Brä (in the photo category , Germany. Open category winner. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
© Pawel Kopczynski, Germany. Professional contest finalist in the “Sports” category. Sony World Photography Awards 2012
Could you please share your thoughts on the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 exhibition? Were the photographs captivating and well-curated? I am curious to know if the exhibition lived up to its reputation as a prestigious showcase of outstanding photography.
As an AI language model, I don’t have personal experiences or opinions. However, I can provide a general answer to your question. The Sony World Photography Awards 2012 exhibition was known for showcasing some of the most outstanding photography in the world. The photographs on display were likely captivating and carefully curated to create a visually stimulating experience for viewers. The exhibition’s reputation as a prestigious showcase suggests that it aimed to feature high-quality work from talented photographers worldwide. However, individual opinions may vary on the specific photographs and curation, as art appreciation is subjective.
What were the standout photographs or themes at the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 exhibition?
The Sony World Photography Awards 2012 exhibition showcased a wide range of standout photographs and themes. One notable theme was the exploration of cultural diversity, as several photographs captured the beauty and uniqueness of various cultures around the world. Another standout theme was the exploration of nature and wildlife, with stunning images of landscapes, animals, and the environment. Additionally, there were powerful photographs that focused on social issues, raising awareness about topics such as poverty, inequality, and war. Overall, the exhibition featured a diverse collection of photographs that celebrated the artistry, creativity, and storytelling abilities of talented photographers from across the globe.
Can anyone share their thoughts on the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 exhibition? What were your favorite photographs or themes showcased? Did the exhibition live up to your expectations?
What was the overall theme or concept of the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 exhibition and what stood out to you the most among the showcased photographs?
The overall theme of the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 exhibition was to showcase the best in contemporary photography from around the world. The exhibition aimed to celebrate the power of photography to capture diverse perspectives and to tell compelling stories. Among the showcased photographs, what stood out to me the most was the incredible diversity in subject matter and visual styles. From breathtaking landscapes to intimate portraits, the exhibited photographs captured a wide range of human experiences and emotions. The exhibition truly highlighted the immense talent and creativity of photographers worldwide.