Sony World Photography Awards 2022
Winners announced
The overall winners of the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2022 have been announced and it’s been another year packed with exceptional talent.
Photographer of the Year / Portraiture winner
Adam Ferguson / Australia
© Adam Ferguson, Australia, Photographer of the Year, Professional competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2022
Migrantes is a series of black and white self-portraits of migrants in Mexico, taken as they waited to cross the border into the United States. Photographed in collaboration with the subjects, Ferguson set- up the scene for each image, mounting a medium format camera on a tripod with a cable release and then stepped back, allowing the individuals to choose the moment of capture and participate in the process of documenting their lives.
Commenting on Ferguson’s winning project, Mike Trow, Chair of the 2022 Professional competition says:
What Adam Ferguson has done on the US / Mexico border with migrant families and individuals is deeply compassionate and moving. This set of portraits speaks volumes about how moral intentionality and respect can help avoid some of that sense of manipulation and invasion of the private which photography is often accused of. By giving his subjects the shutter release Adam hands a certain power to the sitter to make that decision on how to be perceived. These photographs are beautiful, meaningful and kind. There were other stories that we as a jury admired deeply but Adam’s series stood out because it speaks so eloquently and warmly of people under hardship but who hold on to their decency and love regardless of place and wealth."
Open Photographer of the Year
Scott Wilson / UK
© Scott Wilson, UK, Open Photographer of the Year, Open competition, Natural World and Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2022
The Open competition celebrates the power of single images. Winning photographs are selected for their ability to communicate a remarkable visual narrative combined with technical excellence. Chosen from ten Open category winners, Scott Wilson (United Kingdom) is Open Photographer of the Year 2022.
Wilson won for his powerful photograph Anger Management entered in the Natural World & Wildlife category. The black and white image depicts a dirt-caked wild mustang kicking up a dust storm in northwestern Colorado. The picture was taken shortly after the stallion plunged himself into a mud pool - protection from summer bugs – and while pounding the ground to let competing males know he was ready to fight for his spot at a nearby watering hole.
Student Photographer of the Year
Ezra Bohm / Netherlands
© Ezra Bohm, Netherlands, Student Photographer of the Year, Student competition, Connections, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards
Ezra Bohm (Netherlands) of the Nederlandse Acedemie voor Beeldcreatie has been awarded Student Photographer of the Year 2022. Bohm was chosen for his series The Identity of Holland, created in response to the brief Connections which challenged students to present a story that highlights how they, or someone they have documented, interact with the world. For his winning series Bohm photographed the residents of close-knit communities in the Netherlands who maintain a traditional way of life, highlighting their extraordinarily detailed customary dress and their connection to Dutch cultural history.
Commenting on his win Bohm says: “Winning this prize confirms to me the importance of photographing the unexpected, to tell stories that come from my heart and soul. By following your ambition, everything you do becomes more meaningful, and probably also more successful.”
Youth Photographer of the Year
Tri Nguyen / Vietnam (18 years old)
© Tri Nguyen, Vietnam, Youth Photographer of the Year, Youth competition, 2022 Youth competition - Portraiture, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards
Selected from six category winners, Tri Nguyen (Vietnam, 18 years-old) has won Youth Photographer of the Year 2022 for his image Under The Moonlight. The photograph depicts a young man basking in artificial moonlight standing against a derelict background. The moonlight symbolises a spotlight shining on the young man, and his longing to accept his flaws. The photo is part of a series that investigates self-reflection and a yearning to break the mould and celebrate one’s imperfections.
For his win Nguyen receives Sony’s digital imaging kit and global exposure. Commenting on his win Nguyen says: “As a budding and motivated artist, I am extremely excited and proud to have been chosen as the Youth Photographer of the Year 2022. I humbly accept this Award and will use this momentum to further my photography.”
The Sony World Photography Awards 2022 exhibition opens at Somerset House, London from 13 April – 2 May 2022. In addition to the work of this year’s overall and category winners the exhibition features solo presentations by the 2020 Photographer of the Year winner Pablo Albarenga (Uruguay), and 2021 winner Craig Easton (United Kingdom).
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The Sony World Photography Awards 2022 is also available to view as a virtual exhibition.
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