The pros get weird in the 2022 Sony World Photography Awards finalists

The professional finalists and shortlisted shots in the 2022 Sony World Photography Awards offer an incredible glimpse at the current state of contemporary photography. This year’s top picks focus on surreal pandemic images, compelling drone shots, and one curious urban fox.

The photography competition, one of the biggest in the world, encompasses four separate contests: Professional, Youth, Student and Open. The Professional contest spans 10 categories and demands photographers enter a portfolio or body of work.

Sea Lion Hunting 2. "Like an Olympic athlete performing a perfectly choreographed routine, the sea lion preys on these sardines. The sardines’ only hope is to dive into the deep dark blue but the sea lion knows this and pins them to the surface waiting for its moment to strike."
Sea Lion Hunting 2. “Like an Olympic athlete performing a perfectly choreographed routine, the sea lion preys on these sardines. The sardines’ only hope is to dive into the deep dark blue but the sea lion knows this and pins them to the surface waiting for its moment to strike.”

Graeme Purdy, Northern Ireland, Shortlist, Professional, Wildlife & Nature, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

This year the Professional contest attracted a record-breaking 156,000 entries. Jury Chair Mike Trow says he was surprised at the depth and variety of images submitted considering the ongoing pandemic certainly would have made it difficult for photographers to journey out into the world and explore novel subjects.

“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,” says Trow. “To have the chance to see so much work from across the world is both humbling and energising.”

Nemo's Garden. The biospheres are located 40 metres off the Noli shore – a small village on the Ligurian coast. They are constructed 6-12 metres below the surface of the water, to enable the plants to draw the necessary source of light for their development.
Nemo’s Garden. The biospheres are located 40 metres off the Noli shore – a small village on the Ligurian coast. They are constructed 6-12 metres below the surface of the water, to enable the plants to draw the necessary source of light for their development.

Giacomo d’Orlando, Italy, Finalist, Professional, Environment, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

Weird and surreal perspectives seemed to dominate this year’s Professional shortlist, from Australian photographer Serena Dzenis’ series turning architecture in Iceland into a sci-fi portrait of a future space colony, to Giacomo d’Orlando’s alien-like take on an experimental underwater greenhouse.

Labyrinth of Speleothems. A diver navigating his underwater scooter through a chamber full of stalactites and stalagmites, showing the raw nature and amazing textures of the flooded caves in Mexico.
Labyrinth of Speleothems. A diver navigating his underwater scooter through a chamber full of stalactites and stalagmites, showing the raw nature and amazing textures of the flooded caves in Mexico.

Martin Broen, United States of America, Shortlist, Professional, Landscape, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

Environmental themes also dominated many top picks this year. A particular highlight is Majid Hojjati’s series “The Earth’s Belongings” placing older lush landscape images amidst current desolate frames highlighting the acute impact of global warming.

Take a look through our gallery at more highlights from this year’s impressive Professional shortlist.

Source: World Photo Organization

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