[Photo credit: Simon Morris]
The five successful UK amateurs are today named as Simon Morris, Byron Dilkes, Norman Quinn, Antony Crossfield and Darren Nisbett.
They will vie for the $5,000 Open Photographer of the Year title at a ceremony to be held in London on 23 April. Their entries will also go on display at Somerset House from 24 April-10 May.
Seven UK-based photographers have also been shortlisted in the professional category and will go forward to compete for the overall photographer of the year crown and $25,000 cash prize.
Alex Foden, from the UK, was named as a finalist in the Youth competition, open to people aged 19 and under.
The Sony World Photography contest attracted 173,444 images from 171 countries.
World Photography Organisation creative director Astrid Merget Motsenigos said: ‘Once again, the shortlist demonstrates the vibrancy, diversity and skill of both today’s established photographers and, as importantly, the growing army of citizen photographers…
‘The record number of entries gave our expert panel of judges a monumental task, but we are incredibly proud to present a shortlist which truly showcases some of the world’s best photography.’
Last month, Sony launched a new competition dedicated to smartphone users.
Speaking in January, Motsenigos said: ‘With today’s incredible technology at our fingertips, we have the ability to capture the everyday events that actually form part of the unique fabric of our lives.
‘Most of us document our own history every day with our mobile phones and think nothing of it.
‘This category allows us to look a little closer at those otherwise ordinary moments.’
[Photo credit: Julia Fullerton-Batten]
