The 2025 Sony World Photography Awards have once again showcased the extraordinary talent of photographers worldwide through its National & Regional Awards. This year, the competition received an impressive 419,000 submissions from over 200 countries, underscoring the diversity and richness of global visual storytelling. The awards aim to support local photography communities, with 56 countries participating, each contributing unique perspectives and narratives. The winning photographs, selected from the Open category, offer a glimpse into the varied experiences and environments from around the globe, capturing moments that are both fleeting and profound.
Among the standout images, Werner de Kock’s “Crash Landing” from South Africa vividly depicts a penguin’s dramatic return to shore in Antarctica. This dynamic shot, taken at Baily Head, where thousands of chinstrap penguins reside, captures the essence of life in one of Earth’s most extreme environments. Meanwhile, Slobodan Blagojević’s photograph from Montepulciano, Italy, presents a serene yet spectacular view of a hilltop town, evoking the timeless beauty of Tuscany. These images not only highlight technical skill but also the ability to tell compelling stories through photography.
The regional awards reveal a fascinating array of cultural and natural wonders. Syed Mahabubul Kader’s winning image from Bangladesh offers an intimate look at rural life, showcasing workers unloading paddy straw, a scene rich in texture and human connection. In South Korea, Kyunghwan Oh’s photograph of an underwater cave on Ulleungdo Island mesmerizes with its ethereal beauty, while Suer Celina’s capture of Dubrovnik, Croatia, presents a captivating blend of architecture and atmosphere. These photographs exemplify the power of imaging in bridging cultural gaps and fostering global understanding.
Nature’s grandeur is a recurring theme, as seen in Sim Jhones Gozali’s depiction of Indonesia’s Mount Merapi, an active volcano whose molten flows illuminate the landscape. In contrast, Zay Yar Lin’s photograph from Myanmar captures the tranquility of a farming family’s breakfast, offering a poignant glimpse into daily life. Sanja Vržić’s “Invisible Path” from Bosnia & Herzegovina delves into the mystical, tracing a mountain stream’s journey through the first snow, a scene steeped in natural and legendary beauty.
The awards also highlight the intersection of culture and nature. Radojko Bošković’s image of the Prokletije mountain range in Montenegro presents a rugged landscape, while Mohammed Muhtasib’s photograph from Bangladesh captures the vibrant energy of Toji railway station. Lior Berman Fernandez’s shot of Monte Fitz Roy in Argentina, with the first light of dawn and a descending blue moon, embodies the magic of the natural world. Each image serves as a window into its locale, offering insights into both the environment and its people.
The final selections blend artistry and storytelling, such as Peter Svoboda’s “coloured snow” in the French Alps, a phenomenon born from Saharan sand winds. Kiyoshi Hijiki’s aerial view of a boat in Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay and Kibong Nam’s Icelandic waterfall, captured with a slow shutter, further illustrate the technical prowess and creative vision of the photographers. These images remind us of photography’s role in capturing the world’s beauty and complexity, making the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards a testament to the art form’s enduring power.
