Sony have just revealed the category winners from the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards, Open competition. One of the most prestigious photography awards on the planet, the Open competition spans ten diverse categories with winners chosen from a record-breaking number of entries, submitted from 195 countries and territories.

The winning photographers come from a broad range of countries and backgrounds and include full-time professional photographers, photographers who have recently converted from other careers, and pure enthusiasts.

Winners this year include two British photographers, with Tracey Lund taking home the Natural World and Wildlife award for her image ‘Underwater Gannets’, depicting two birds catching a fish; and Richard Ansett winning the Portraiture category for his image of Grayson Perry’s alter ego, Claire, called ‘Birth’.

Elsewhere, the Architecture award went to Frenchman Philippe Sarfati for his ‘Heatwave’ photography, the Culture category was won by Pan Jianhua for his ‘Shadow Puppetry’ image taken in rural China, while our favourite image comes from Czech photographer Martin Stranka with the image ‘Dreamers and Warriors’, winner of the Creative category.

The ten winners of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards, Open competition will now go on to compete for the Open Photographer of the Year, which will be announced at an Awards’ ceremony in London on 17th April. Check out all the images over at the World Photo Website.

















Image Credits (in order);

© Martin Stranka, Czech Republic, Winner, Open competition, Creative , 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Pan Jianhua, China Mainland, Winner, Open competition, Culture , 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Richard Ansett, United Kingdom, Winner, Open competition, Portraiture, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Tracey Lund, United Kingdom, Winner, Open competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Philippe Sarfati, France, Winner, Open competition, Architecture, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Christy Lee Rogers, United States, Winner, Open competition, Motion, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Hal Gage, United States, Winner, Open competition, Landscape, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Rachel Yee Laam Lai, Hong Kong SAR, Winner, Open competition, Still Life, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Carole Pariat, France, Winner, Open competition, Street Photography , 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Nicolas Boyer, France, Winner, Open competition, Travel, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

Earlier this year, the winners for 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) were chosen, with over 20,000 images submitted from amateur and professional photographers from 142 countries.