Striking images showing the aftermath of wildfires, evocative portraits of bushmeat hunters and some of the most indelible shots from the US Capitol riot are among the works that will determine the 2022 Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year.
The images were chosen from over 156,000 submissions, the highest number in the history of the prestigious award, now in its 15th year. The entries are part of the professional competition, which judges photographers based on a body of work of several images in any of 10 categories, including environment, landscape, portraiture and still life.
Three finalists were selected for each category, with the intent of rewarding both technical skill and an original approach to contemporary subjects, as all of the images under consideration were taken in 2021.
“At points we all may have felt that the ongoing Covid crisis meant that the world had shut down, but when reviewing these projects it is clear nothing could be further from the truth,” said Mike Trow, chair of the panel judging the competition, in a statement. “To have the chance to see so much work from across the world is both humbling and energising.”
Among the finalists are Yun Chi Chen from Taiwan, who took inspiration from the process of drawing traditional architectural blueprints to create multilayered images of prominent buildings, such a Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, which is set to be demolished this year; Raphaël Neal from the UK, who created diptychs that juxtapose climate change scenes with portraits of teenagers who will inherit the effects of the climate crisis, each showing a different reaction in the face of danger; and Ricardo Teles from Brazil, who documented the country’s Indigenous Xingu tribe and their martial art called Huka-huka, a ritual honoring the dead that last year was devoted predominantly to victims of Covid-19.
Sport category finalist Ricardo Teles documents the Brazilian Indigenous Xingu tribe and their martial art called Huka-huka, a ritual to honor the dead — last year devoted primarily to Covid victims. Credit: Ricardo Teles
Also notable are the ethereal images taken by Gareth Iwan Jones, a freelance portrait photographer who found himself unable to work during the coronavirus lockdowns of 2021 in the UK. He then turned his lens to the figures of nearby trees, shot against dawn or dusk skies and lit using drones, leading to an otherworldly depiction of nature.
Portrait photographer Gareth Iwan Jones started shooting trees after the coronavirus pandemic made meeting in person difficult. Credit: Gareth Iwan Jones
Jacob Chansley, photographed by Win McNamee in the series “Insurrection,” screams inside the Senate chamber during the US Capitol riot of 2021. Chansley was later sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in the riot. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Winners for all competitions will be announced on April 12, and a selection of images by finalists and shortlisted photographers will form an exhibition at London’s Somerset House that starts the next day and lasts until May 2. The professional competition also awards a prize of $25,000 to the Photographer of the Year winner, who is selected from the finalists.
Source: www.cnn.com