The shortlisted photographs in the Professional competition of the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards were selected from more than 419,000 entries from 200 countries—almost four times the number submitted in 2017.
At the time of publication, the ten category winners were due to be chosen from the thirty finalists and announced at a special ceremony in London on April 16. The Photographer of the Year was to be selected from those category winners and announced that evening.
Photo by Tom Franks:
‘I don’t often carry,’ Jennie said. ‘I’m just not that confident with a pistol yet, but the boys are going to give me some lessons to get my confidence up.’ Spending her formative years in California, she had only recently relocated their family to Prescott. ‘California’s crime has just gotten out of control, and we don’t feel it’s a safe enough environment for our kids,’ Jennie said glumly.
In addition to receiving a cash prize of $25,000 (USD) and a suite of digital imaging equipment from Sony, the eventual winner will have the opportunity to show their work in a solo presentation at next year's Sony World Photography Awards London exhibition.
At the time, the Professional competition also introduced a new prize element: the ten category winners were to be invited to London for a day of tailored sessions with leading industry figures. Drawing on commercial and institutional backgrounds, these experts would offer specialized guidance on expanding the photographers’ platforms and finding new opportunities to show their work.
Photo Michael Dunn:
Teresa and Martha pose with their golf clubs at the famous ‘Moon Hole,’ one of the most iconic holes at La Paz Golf Club. Every Monday they leave their usual work roles and practice the sport they are passionate about, wearing the traditional clothing of the Bolivian ‘chola.’
The 2025 Awards highlighted the creativity and dynamism of Japan’s contemporary photography scene and marked the first Japan Professional Award, recognizing a winner and a shortlist of notable series by Japanese photographers in the Professional competition.
A selection of work by finalists and shortlisted photographers was shown in the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 exhibition at Somerset House from April 17 to May 5, 2025, before traveling to other locations.
Dutch shortlisted photographer
The Dutch Marielle van Uitert is on the Shortlist of the 2025 Professional competition in the Wildlife & Nature category with her photographs of the one-year-old male wolf, identified with the file name GW2937m, which was hit by a car while crossing the A12 between Duiven and Zevenaar in the Netherlands.
Photo Marielle van Uitert:
Sita van Hoorn blow-dries the wolf’s hair.
Although the animal survived the immediate accident, it was so seriously injured that it had to be euthanized. It was then given to a taxidermist, Sita van Hoorn, to prepare it for the Museum De Bastei in Nijmegen.
