Sony World Photography Awards 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sony World Photography Awards 2012 Shortlist announced

New Zealander Scott Robin Barbour shortlisted in Sport Category

The World Photography Organisation announces the shortlist for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards. Billed as the global photographic event of the year, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the very best in photography from around the world, from the next generation of emerging photographers through to the established masters of the art. New Zealand is represented in the shortlist by Scott Robin Barbour in the Sport category.
The 2012 competition has garnered increased worldwide interest with over 112,000 entries from 171 countries, with the shortlisted images depicting the stories of extraordinary lives from around the world.

This year the honorary jury found the quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories, discovering many photographers new to the Sony World Photography Awards roster. Manuel Geerinck (Belgium); Lee Chee Wai (China); Alejandro Cartagena (Mexico), Irina Werning (Argentina); Gwenn Dubourthoumieu (Republic of the Congo) and Simon Norfolk (UK), are but a few of the new names to place as finalists and shortlisted photographers.

Returning photographers from previous years, include 2010 Professional Landscape winner, Peter Franck (Germany); who this year is a finalist in three categories; 2011 Professional Contemporary Issues and Current Affairs winner, Javier Arcenillas (Spain); and Chan Kwok Hung (Hong Kong) whose stunningly dramatic image ‘Buffalo Race’ won the Overall Open Competition in 2011.
W M Hunt, Chair of the Honorary Judging Committee, commented: ‘As a judge, you bring an open mind and a passion for photography - its presence and its present, its past and its legacy. You are hopeful and hungry to see great work that is fresh and full, expecting the exceptional. The rewards are rich and delightful. It is a pleasure to present this year's selections.’

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation added: ‘Looking at the vast collection of shortlisted work across the categories, is truly gratifying this year. Within the Professional awards, the bodies of work are beautifully presented and distinctive, whilst in the Open categories, the single snapshots are diverse and demonstrate excellent skill within the amateur market. The new Youth competition also delighted us, as we were thrilled to find some exceptional budding talent.’

In being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, photographers can now look forward to the invaluable support of the World Photography Organisation, which includes having their work exhibited at a major exhibition at London’s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012.

The shortlist for the Professional Competition was selected by the Honorary Judging committee which was chaired by esteemed photographic consultant W.M. Hunt. This year the Open entries were judged by a pre-selection committee of inspectors from Shutterstock, WPO and representatives from Sony. The Youth Competition was judged by a WPO and Sony selection committee.

The annual Sony World Photography Awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on 26 April at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane. The awards celebration will once again take place alongside World Photo, London, a month-long event which brings an eclectic mix of photographic events for all to enjoy. The opening weekend of World Photo London will be held at Somerset House from 27 - 30 April with selected events including portfolio reviews, workshops, symposiums and the Sony World Photography Awards winners’ exhibitions, which continue through to 20 May 2012. Honorary Judges for the 2012 Awards and other international industry experts will be leading many of the festival events.

Professional shortlisted photographers

Honorary judging committee:

Presiding Chair: W. M. Hunt (USA) Photographic Consultant.

Chairs: Michael Benson (UK) Director, Prix Pictet; James Reid (UK) Photography Director of Wallpaper*; Claudia Hinterseer (Netherlands) Managing Director and co-owner of NOOR.
Additional Jury: Jodi Bieber (South Africa) Photographer; Jon Jones (UK) Director of Photography Sunday Times Magazine; Rebecca Lewis (US) Vice-President and Senior Agent for Art+Commerce; Prabuddha Dasgupta (India) Photographer; Shizuka Yokomizo (Japan) Photographer.

In each category the judges could select up to three finalist photographers and up to seven additional shortlist photographers. From the finalists, the winners plus 2nd and 3rd place will be chosen and announced at the awards ceremony on 26 April.
Photographers are listed alphabetically.

PHOTOJOURNALISM & DOCUMENTARY

Current Affairs
Finalists:
Fernando Alfonso Brito Lizárraga Mexico
Rémi Ochlik (IP3 Press) France

Donald Weber (VII PHOTO) Canada

Shortlisted:
Javier Arcenillas Spain
Fabio Bucciarelli Italy
Pietro Masturzo Italy
Giorgos Moutafis Greece
Goran Tomasevic United Kingdom

Contemporary Issues
Finalists:
Kasia Bielska Poland
Alessandro Grassani Italy
Gustavo Jononovich Argentina

Shortlisted:
Francesco Giusti Italy
Sebastian Liste Spain
Ivor Prickett Ireland
Jose Luis Rodriguez Maldonado Columbia
Natasha Shulte Ukraine
Anastasia Taylor-Lind United Kingdom
Donald Weber (VII PHOTO) Canada

People
Finalists:
Alejandro Cartagena Mexico
Maja Daniels Sweden
Simon Norfolk United Kingdom

Shortlisted:
Philippe Leroux France
Kerry Mansfield United States
Francesca Oggiano Italy
Huage Shang China
Salvi Danés Vernedas Spain

Sport
Finalists:
Pawel Kopczynski (Thomson Reuters) Germany
Andrew McConnell Ireland
Palmer + Pawel United Kingdom

Shortlisted:
Delfosse Colin Belgium
Alvaro Deprit Italy
Mikhail Domozhilov Russian Federation
Adam Pretty Australia
Scott Robin Barbour New Zealand
Robin Utrecht Netherlands

Nature & Wildlife
Finalists:
• David Chancellor (Institute) United Kingdom
• Jacek Kusz Poland
• Palani Mohan India

Shortlisted:
• Salil Bera India
• Terence du Fresne Switzerland
• Barbara Leven United States
• Suren Manvelyan Armenia
• Tapash Paul Bangladesh

Arts and Culture
Finalists:
Rob Hornstra Netherlands
Anastasia Taylor-Lind United Kingdom
Mattia Vacca Italy

Shortlisted:
Javier Arcenillas Spain
Jacek Swierczynski Poland
Yannick Cormier France
Alvaro Deprit Italy
Susana Girón Spain
Davide Monteleone Italy
Andrea Santolaya Spain

COMMERCIAL
Campaign
Finalists:
Javier Arcenillas Spain
Peter Franck Germany
Laura Pannack United Kingdom

Shortlisted:
Michael Blann United Kingdom
Felipe Cantillana Chile
Jan von Holleben Germany
Miguel Navarro United Kingdom
Michelle Siu Canada
Roberto Soares-Gomes Brazil
Daniele Testa Italy

Travel
Finalists:
Jan Brykczynski Poland
Luis Henry Agudelo Cano Colombia
Peter Franck Germany

Shortlisted:
Giancarlo Ceraudo Italy
Andrea Hamilton United Kingdom
Cristina De Middel Spain
Yurian Quintanas Nobel Spain
Gianluca Pulcini Italy
Lisa Wiltse United States

Fashion
Finalists:
Peter Franck Germany
Elizaveta Porodina Germany
Jayden Tang United Kingdom

Shortlisted:
Michelle Beatty United Kingdom
Susi Belianska Italy
Romano Decker Dejan Kutic Croatia
Filippo Del Vita Italy
Alice Pavesi Italy
Dasha Ketsko Ukraine
Frauke Thielking Germany

FINE ART
Architecture
Finalists:
Igor Chirikov Russian Federation
David Ibernón Boria Spain
Simon Norfolk United Kingdom

Shortlisted:
Bibi Broderick Canada
Riccardo Budini Italy
Tamas Bujnovszky Hungary
Alejandro Cartagena Mexico
Paula Gortazar United Kingdom
David de Jong Netherlands
Michael Joseph United States

Portraiture
Finalists:
Lei Liu China
Paolo Marchetti Italy
Irina Werning Argentina

Shortlisted:
Gwenn Dubourthoumieu The Democratic Republic of Congo
Lavinia Parlamenti Italy
Johann Rousselot France
Javier Arcenillas Spain
George Mayer Russian Federation

Landscape
Finalists :
Rona Chang United States
Lee Chee Wai Malaysia
Mitch Dobrowner United States

Shortlisted:
Regis Boileau France
Ximena Etchart Argentina
Jeroen Hofman Netherlands
Zhang Kechun China
Matthias H. Risse Germany
Chaoliang Shen Taiwan, Province of China
Stephen Wilkes United States

Still Life
Finalists:
Renan Cepeda Brazil
Rena Effendi (INSTITUTE) Azerbaijan
Helen Thompson United Kingdom

Shortlisted:
Michal Cole United Kingdom
Peter Franck Germany
Martina Geccelli United Kingdom
Miri Mor Israel
Song Nian Ang Singapore
Gicheol Shin Republic of Korea

Conceptual
Finalists:
Manuel Geerinck Belgium
Luis Mallo United States
Cristina De Middel Spain

Shortlisted:
Carlo D'Orta Italy
Photographer Hal Japan
Giuseppe Parisi Italy
Carlos Henrique Reinesch Brazil
Sanne Maloe Slecht Netherlands

Frauke Thielking Germany
Patricia van de Camp Netherlands

Open shortlisted photographers
In each category judges were able to select up to ten images.
Architecture
Babul Bhatt India
Patrice Carré France
Filippo Di Rosa Italy
Fabrizio Intonti Italy
Francisco Mendes Portugal
Rui Nunes United Kingdom
Fulvio Pellegrini Italy
José Ramón Montes Spain
Thai Son Huynh Vietnam

Arts & Culture
Dovile Dagiene Lithuania
Levi Fanan Brazil
Kushal Gangopadhyay India
Antonio Iubatti Italy
Sanket K India
Klaartje Lambrechts Belgium
Oliver Mezger Germany
Tan Nono Rahardian Indonesia
Samanta Sollima Italy
Paul Störm Australia

Enhanced
Alexandr Afonin Russian Federation
Sandra Cifo United States
Paul Irving United Kingdom
Milan Makarský Czech Republic
Frank Martin Eisele Germany
Rodolfo Mejías Venezuela
Jochen Resch Germany
Oren Shved Israel
Victor Vargas Villafuerte Canada
Antonios Vlachou Slovakia

Low Light
Elmar Akhmetov Kazakhstan
Edoardo Brotto Italy
Ignasi cunill Spain
Teng Hin Khoo Malaysia
Sergey Kochmak Russian Federation
Christoph Krüger Germany
Belentsova Natalia Russian Federation
Pansiri Pikunkaew Thailand
Derrick Woo Hong Kong
Heng Zee Kek Singapore

Nature & Wildlife
Nadav Bagim Israel
Anita Erdmann Canada
Handri Fitrido Indonesia

Felicitas Frei Switzerland
Giovanni Frescura Italy
Peter Krejzl Czech Republic
Chan Kwok Hung Hong Kong
William Lee United States
Kuntal Paul India
Petar Sabol Croatia

Panoramic
Pramiga Aditya Indonesia
Ionut Hrenciuc Romania
Istvan Nagy Netherlands
Noel Plaszkó Hungary
Matthew Post Australia
James Rider United Kingdom
Terry Soo Australia
Ian Taylor United Kingdom
steve Williams United Kingdom
Denise Worden United States

People
Victoria Bolshemennik Israel
Tommy Braxton United Kingdom
Thomas Dymond United Kingdom
Mehmet Fatih Yaldiz Turkey
Ana Gregorič Slovenia
Paul MacKinnon United Kingdom
Christine Pearl United States
Fulvio Pellegrini Italy
Zulkifli Thalib Indonesia
Russian Federation

Smile
Ricky Alexander Indonesia
Nguyen Duc Tri Vietnam
Gerold Guggenbuehl Switzerland
Arnold Jumpay Philippines
Anom Manik Agung Indonesia
Kivera Mara Réunion
Diana Mrazikova Slovakia
Meghann Prouse United States
Nick Redman United Kingdom
Piotr Stasiuk Poland

Split Second
Cemhan Biricik United States
Tobias Bräuning Germany
Samuel Chan China
Andrzej Chrobot Poland
Alessandro Falco Italy
Don Horne Ireland
Johnny Joo United States
Gustavo Magnavacca Argentina
Greg Parker United Kingdom
Peter Prazenka Slovakia

Travel
Krzysztof Browko Poland
Krzysztof Browko Poland
Marco Lachmann-Anke Germany
John Lai Teck Kee Malaysia
Carlos Macedonio Brazil
N S Ng Singapore
Keith Pace Malta
Suprijanto Suprijanto Indonesia
George Turnbull United Kingdom
Malte Wittmann Germany

Youth shortlisted photographers
Culture
• Hanne Grannestad Norway
• Lam Ka Ho Hong Kong
• Sahil Lodha India
• Merijn Mulder Netherlands
• Carolina Paltrinieri Italy
• Adrian Pelegrin Bonet Spain
• Kolyaskin Sergey Russian Federation
• Benedek Varga Hungary

Environment
• Alla Aliokhina Ukraine
• Kolyaskin Sergey Russian Federation
• Thamyres Matarozzi Brazil
• Adrian Pelegrin Bonet Spain
• Bernard Pieterse South Africa
• Imanuel Thallinger Austria
• Kazi Sudipto Bangladesh
• Kseniya Sovenko United States

Portraits
• Tertious Alio Russian Federation
• Hadi Asgari Iran
• Lidia K United Kingdom
• Darya Kasyanova Russian Federation
• Samujjwal Sahu India
• Karina Sembe Ukraine
• Kolyaskin Sergey Russian Federation
• Felicia Simion Romania
• Marina Tkhorzhevskaya Russian Federation
• Berta Vicente Spain

Key dates 2012
20 March Open (amateur) category winners announced
26 April Sony World Photography Awards, gala ceremony held London Hilton
27 April Sony World Photography Award Winners and World Photo, London exhibitions open at Somerset House London
For further information or to access high-res images please contact:
Amy Barder / Kiri Gillespie
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7631 2666
amybarder@colmangetty.co.uk or kiri@colmangetty.co.uk
For further information on Sony please contact:
Dean Allen
Sony New Zealand
021488127
Dean.allen@ap.sony.com
Notes to editors
Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation and members of the jury are available for interview through Colman Getty

To request an interview with shortlisted photographers, contact Colman Getty

Images are available to download via the press area of www.worldphoto.org. Use of images must comply with SWPA terms and conditions. Password details are available from Colman Getty

In selecting the shortlist, jury members are required to choose a minimum of 3 photographers with a maximum of 10 in each category

Photographers entering the Professional competition may enter a minimum of 2 and maximum of 10 images per category, being judged on a body of work; those entering the Open category, are judged on a single snapshot in any category.

Images submitted must have been taken in 2011 for the Open Competition, whilst Professionals may have taken their images in 2011, or first published their work in 2011.

The Youth Award is open to any photographer under the age of 20.

Created by the World Photography Organisation (WPO), the World Photography Awards, sponsored by Sony, launched in 2007. WPO supports professional, amateur and student photography, lending a global platform for the photographic industry to communicate, converge and showcase current trends in Photojournalism, Fine Art and Commercial photography. Delivering various initiatives and programmes across this global community, these programmes involve the photographer in commercial, cultural and educational activities within the many industry sectors, whilst also creating cultural activities for the public to participate in. Currently included within the WPO portfolio are the World Photography Student Focus Competition; the World Photo international festivals and events, and the World Photography Focus Programme.

The WPO website - www.worldphoto.org features an online gallery and news section. It also includes comprehensive information about the Awards, the categories, a current list of World Photographic Academy members, and key dates.

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