“Galaxy Explosion” © Pável Vélez, Mexico, Winner, Latin America National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
Fireworks celebrate the dawn of a new year in the small town of Santa Rosa Xochiac, Mexico.
The World Photography Organisation has revealed the National Winners of the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards. Selected from more than 200,000 photos submitted to the Open Competition, these images highlight the best photography from 55 participating countries.
This year, the competition added four new regional awards that spotlight the breadth of photographic talent from a range of countries across Europe. Likewise, the Latin American National Award honors photographers from Central and South America. Mexican photographer Pável Vélez won the Latin American National Award for his evocative photo of fireworks in the small town of Santa Rosa Xochiac. The bright orange and fuchsia colors of the fireworks pop against the night sky. Vélez’s composition places us right behind local revelers, making us feel like we’re also participating in the event.
From local cultural traditions to landscapes to wildlife, a wide range of subjects took the top prizes in each country. Whether the photographs are in black and white or rich color, each image is a celebration of the photographers’ creative choices. To honor their victory, the winners will receive Sony digital imaging equipment and will be included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.
We’ve curated some of our favorite National Winners in anticipation of the announcement of the overall winners in the Student, Youth, Open, and Professional competitions. That announcement will take place in April, just prior to the opening of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House in London. In the meantime, drink in these incredible images that represent the top amateur photography talent from around the world.
Check out some of our favorite National Award winners from the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards.
“Lapland” © Roberto Pavić, Croatia, Winner, Regional Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
Moonrise in Lapland, Finland.
“The Captivating Eyes” © Protap Shekhor Mohanto, Bangladesh, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
This spotted owlet was photographed from a hide at the National Botanical Garden of Bangladesh. During the day these amazing birds tend to hide in nests made in the holes of tree trunks, but they sometimes peep out to observe their surroundings with their captivating yellow eyes.
“Glare of a Predator” © Rajeev Abeysekara, Sri Lanka, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
During a game drive in Sri Lanka’s Kumana National Park I came across this magnificent Sri Lankan leopard resting in a tree, staring at us through the branches. It was an unforgettable encounter.
“Jumping Rope” © Leo Huang, Taiwan, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
I recorded this moment from a low angle so I could include the clouds in the sky and make the picture more dramatic.
“Matthew” © Milda Vyšniauskaitė, Lithuania, Winner, Regional Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
Matthew is my dear friend from New York. It was so surreal to see him in rural Lithuania running around in the fields and connecting with this horse. When I look at this image I see serenity, inner peace and a connection with nature.
“Traditional Dress” © Mansoor Mohsen, Saudi Arabia, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
A girl in traditional dress in a region of Saudi Arabia.
55 countries participated in the awards, with images selected from over 200,000 entered into the Open Competition.
“The Jetty” © Eng Tong Tan, Malaysia, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
A 132-second long exposure of the jetty at Desaru, Malaysia.
“Iceberg” © Huazheng Hong, Singapore, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
The Ilulissat icebergs off Greenland’s coast lend perspective to the staggering immensity of the distant ice walls, which stretch for several kilometers and can be as tall as a one-hundred-story skyscraper. That is only the ‘tip of the iceberg’, though. The glaciers extend well below the water, to an average depth of 2,100 meters, and discharge more ice into the global oceanic current than any other glacier in the Northern Hemisphere.
“Exhausted” © Andreas Mikonauschke, Germany, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
In Andalusia, Spain, the traditional Easter processions are a fascinating event to watch. The different brotherhoods (Hermandades) with their uniformed brothers (cofrades) are an everyday sight during the holy week, Semana Santa. Central elements of the processions are the heavy wooden frames (pasos) showing biblical scenes with one or more statues – these are carried through the streets by volunteer paso carriers underneath – usually one only sees their feet but sometimes during the rare breaks one gets an impression of the tough job they have.
“Confident” © Abdulla AL-Mushaifri, Qatar, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
A picture of a young ‘knight’ demonstrating his horsemanship, while simultaneously looking at the assembled photographers waiting to take a picture of him. This photograph was taken in the Sultanate of Oman.
“Nature’s Abduction” © Cristina Băzăr, Romania, Winner, Regional Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
While traveling in Madeira, I was mesmerized by this specific tree engulfed in fog. I decided to photograph it alongside a mysterious human presence.
Special Regional Awards honor the photography of selected European countries.
“Flame” © Sima Bivolarska-Stoyanova, Bulgaria, Winner, Regional Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
A woman represents fire; she is like an element that burns you.
“Turtle Dream” © Thiện Nguyễn Ngọc, Vietnam, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
A female diver glides peacefully alongside a friendly sea turtle off the coast of Perhentian Island, Malaysia, a harmonious coexistence between human and nature.
“Tuffie” © Pradeep Kodimana Ramakrishnan, India, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
Navigating life’s twists and turns, one step at a time.
“Knights” © Oday Shanshal, United Arab Emirates, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
This photograph was taken in November 2022 at a horse festival in Morocco. The picture was taken using a slow shutter speed, while panning the camera to follow the movement of the knights.
“Untitled” © Erhan Coral, Turkey, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
The famous hot springs at Güroymak, Bitlis, Turkey. The hot springs maintain a temperature of about 40℃, even when the outside temperature is as low as -14℃.
“Live the Life” © Donell Gumiran, Philippines, Winner, National Awards, Sony World Photography Awards 2023
It is estimated that around 20,000 children from various parts of Rajasthan are leading a nomadic life, staying close to their animals.