The Sony World Photography Awards has unveiled the finalists and shortlisted photographers for the 2025 Professional competition. Now in its 18th year, the Professional competition honors exceptional photographic series that stand out for their captivating narrative and photographic execution. This year, over 419,000 images from more than 200 countries and territories were submitted, showcasing the global reach and diversity of talent.
The 10 category winners will be selected from the 30 finalists and announced at a special ceremony in London on 16 April 2025. The prestigious Photographer of the Year title will be awarded to one of the category winners on the same night. The winner will receive a $25,000 USD cash prize along with a range of Sony digital imaging equipment. Additionally, the Photographer of the Year will have the opportunity to present their work in a solo exhibition at the Sony World Photography Awards in London the following year.
A new feature has been introduced for the 2025 Professional competition: the 10 category winners will be invited to London for a personalized day of sessions with leading industry figures. These experts, drawn from diverse commercial and institutional backgrounds, will provide photographers with specialized guidance on expanding their platform and finding new opportunities to showcase their work.
This year also marks the launch of the Japan Professional Award, which highlights the creativity and dynamism of Japan’s contemporary photography scene. The Japan Professional Award recognizes a winner and a shortlist of striking series by Japanese photographers within the Professional competition.
A selection of works from the finalists and shortlisted photographers will be showcased at the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 exhibition at Somerset House from 17 April to 5 May 2025, before traveling to other locations.
The three finalist projects per category of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Professional competition are:
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Twilight in San Ignacio by Andre Tezza (Brazil) explores the resilience of Belize’s vernacular architecture, focusing on homes designed to withstand the harsh tropical climate. LIGHT/MASS by Owen Davies (United Kingdom) delves into the “alien” urban landscapes of the United States, highlighting monumental buildings with unconventional geometries and architectural innovation. Tokyo Toilet Project by Ulana Switucha (Canada) documents a unique initiative involving the construction of modern, architecturally designed public restrooms in Tokyo by leading international architects, showcasing the fusion of functionality and design.
CREATIVE
I Am Here for You by Irina Shkoda (Ukraine) reflects on the dynamics of hospitality, both offered and received, drawing from Shkoda’s personal experience as a refugee and the emotional complexities of displacement. Reclaiming the Truth by Julio Etchart & Holly Birtles (United Kingdom) examines institutional artifact collections and curation through a postcolonial lens, offering a critical look at the legacies of colonialism. Meanwhile, Rhiannon Adam (United Kingdom) tells a personal narrative about the dearMoon mission, which she was initially set to join, exploring how its cancellation disrupted her life, work, and artistic ambitions.
DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS
Memories of Dust by Alex Bex (France) explores the visual vocabulary of the cowboy, reinterpreting this archetype of masculinity and offering new perspectives on its portrayal in contemporary culture. The Whisper of Maize by Florence Goupil (Peru) examines the crucial role of maize in Latin American cultures, not only as a staple food but also as a significant medium of cultural and religious expression. Belfast Divides by Toby Binder (Germany) documents the ongoing social divides in Belfast, Northern Ireland, focusing on the lives of young people born after the Good Friday Agreement, reflecting on the impact of history and conflict on the next generation.
ENVIRONMENT
Cristóbal Olivares (Chile) examines the impact of light pollution on astronomical teams studying the night sky in the Atacama Desert, one of the best places in the world for astronomical observation. Maria Portaluppi (Ecuador) highlights conservation efforts in Guayaquil, Ecuador, through intimate portraits of the animals cared for by the Sacha Rescue Foundation, bringing attention to their vital work in animal rescue and rehabilitation. In Alquimia Textil, Nicolás Garrido Huguet (Peru) collaborates with researcher and fashion designer María Lucía Muñoz to document traditional textile dyeing techniques practiced by artisans in Pumaqwasin in Chinchero, Cusco, Peru. The photographs’ light bleeds visually and texturally capture the dye’s seepage into fabric, celebrating the cultural heritage and sustainable practices of these Peruvian artisans.
LANDSCAPE
In Apocalypse, Lalo de Almeida (Brazil) maps the devastating effects of drought, deforestation, and wildfires across Brazil during the country’s hottest year on record in 2024, offering a stark portrayal of the environmental crisis. Mischa Lluch (Spain) in his series Fading evokes the loneliness and disconnection beneath the surface of contemporary American suburbia, capturing eerie, haunting landscapes that convey a sense of isolation. Seido Kino (Japan) combines archival imagery with modern Japanese landscapes to explore how towns and villages have evolved over time, shedding light on how contemporary challenges relate to Japan’s past.
PERSPECTIVES
Giovanni Capriotti (Italy) delves into Canadian history through the lens of First Nations communities, working alongside elders and individuals living with intergenerational trauma to highlight their stories. Laura Pannack (United Kingdom) captures the daily dangers faced by children in the gang-controlled Cape Flats of Cape Town, portraying the constant threats they face as they navigate life in one of South Africa’s most dangerous neighborhoods. Ashes of the Arabian’s Pearl by Valentin Valette (France) explores societal changes in Oman, focusing on the impact of economic growth and the lives of manual laborers and entrepreneurs driving the country’s rapidly growing economy.
PORTRAITURE
Gui Christ’s (Brazil) project M’kumba showcases the resilience of Afro-Brazilian communities amidst local religious intolerance, highlighting their expression of spirituality and religious identity. Raúl Belinchón (Spain) captures the heroic young volunteers in the Valencia region, whose efforts during the 2024 flooding were vital in cleaning homes, clearing streets, and distributing life-saving supplies. Tom Franks (United Kingdom) in his series The Second offers a deep dive into the complex relationship between gun owners and their firearms in the United States, using personal testimonies to explore this cultural phenomenon.
SPORT
Antonio López Díaz (Spain) tells the inspiring story of aspiring gymnasts from Chad, whose determination earned them scholarships and eventually led them to compete for a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games. Chantal Pinzi’s (Italy) Shred the Patriarchy celebrates women in India who have shattered gender stereotypes and defied societal expectations by taking up skateboarding. Michael Dunn (Bolivia) examines a typical Monday for two women passionate about golf, as they leave their regular jobs to play, all while wearing the traditional clothing of the Bolivian chola.
STILL LIFE
Alessandro Gandolfi (Italy) uses still life photography to illustrate the fragile ecosystem of the Wadden Sea, an intertidal zone in the North Sea, underscoring its crucial role in maintaining ecosustainability in Europe. K M Asad (Bangladesh) captures the murals created by Sheikh Hasina during her rule, documenting their erasure and dismantling after her exile in 2024, symbolizing the political shift in Bangladesh. Peter Franck (Germany) in his series Still Waiting evokes the liminal spaces between significant events, capturing thresholds “where time seems to stretch,” creating a visual meditation on time and memory.
WILDLIFE & NATURE
Kevin Shi (United States) highlights the growing proximity between polar bears and humans in the town of Churchill, Canada, emphasizing the environmental and ecological challenges of their interaction. Pascal Beaudenon’s (France) painterly images of a herd of musk ox capture their behavior as they huddle together to survive the harsh winter conditions of the Arctic. Zed Nelson’s (United Kingdom) Anthropocene Illusion is a long-term project that examines how humans mediate their relationship with the natural world, creating artificial experiences of nature amidst a rapidly changing climate and dwindling biodiversity.
JAPAN PROFESSIONAL AWARD
The Japan Professional Award recognizes exceptional Japanese photographers who submitted outstanding series to the Sony World Photography Awards Professional competition. The inaugural winner, Noriko Hayashi, is honored for her powerful project Life at the Crossroads: Midwives in Afghanistan, which documents the resilience and dedication of Afghan midwives working under the Taliban regime. Along with having her work featured at the London exhibition and in the annual book, Noriko Hayashi will receive Sony digital imaging equipment and the opportunity to present her work at the Sony Imaging Gallery Ginza in Tokyo later this year. The shortlisted photographers for the Japan Professional Award include Miku Yokoyama (Architecture & Design), Seido Kino (Landscape), Shinya Masuda (Still Life), and Shunta Kimura (Environment), all of whom contributed exceptional works that showcase the richness of Japanese photography.
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