Nearly 320,000 photos on the most varied issues and with the most diverse styles have been submitted to the eleventh edition of one of the world’s most important and heterogeneous photo contests – the Sony World Photography Awards. The 2018 edition has set a record for the number of images sent by amateur and professional photographers from over 200 countries and for the outstanding quality achieved.

The winners of the Sony World Photography Awards 2018

On 20 March the winners of the Open contest, which honours single images sent from all over the world into ten categories (architecture, culture, enhanced, motion, landscape and nature, portraiture, still life, wildlife, street photography) have been announced, as well as the National Awards’ winners, chosen among the best photos sent from 70 countries. The winners of the Professionals contest and the Open overall winner will be announced on 19 April.

Sunday Buffet at Jerry Mikeska's BBQ. Columbus, Texas, United States 2017. Still Life winner and United States National Award winner © Richard Frishman/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

Every breath you take. Winner, Open competition, Enhanced. The picture was taken in summer 2017 from 35 individual images of swimmers at the triathlon in the Duesseldorf Media Harbor © Klaus Lenzen/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

Shapes of Lofoten, Denmark. Winner, Open Travel and Denmark National Award © Mikkel Beiter/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

Early autumn. The autumn has begun to decorate with its colors the woods of the Balkans. Winner, Open Landscape and Nature and Winner, Bulgaria National Award © Veselin Atanasov/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

Emile. Portraiture winner and United Kingdom National Award winner © Nick Dolding/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

The highest platform. Shortlist, Open, Motion © Fajar Kristianto/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

Young minotaur. Picture taken in the actual palace of king Minos, on the island of Crete, Greece. Winner, Open, Culture, and Winner, Greece National Award © Panos Skordas/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

An unexpected meeting. Open Wildlife and Winner, Poland National Award © Justyna Zdunczyk/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

Old friends. Street Photography winner, Open, and Germany National Award winner © Manuel Armenis/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

The man and the mysterious tower. Vertical wind tunnel build in the years 1934 to 1936 for aironautical studies in Berlin-Adlershof. Winner, Architecture © Andreas Pohl/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

In the melaleuca forest. Commended, Open, Travel and Vietnam National Award winner © Trung Pham Huy/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

The great wall of Namib. Shortlist, Open Landscape & Nature and Thailand National Award Winner © Paranyu Pithayarungsarit/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

The thinker. Belgium National Award Winner © Ingrid Vekemans/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

Beauty of Mount Bromo, East Java, Indonesia. 2nd place, Myanmar National Award © Kyaw Win Hlaing/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

When the sky lights up. 3rd place, Singapore National Award© Nicky Loh/2018 Sony World Photography Awards

The winners of the Sony World Photography Awards 2018, in pictures

Diritti — di Camilla Soldati

Nearly 320,000 photos on the most varied issues and with the most diverse styles have been submitted to the eleventh edition of one of the world’s most important and heterogeneous photo contests – the Sony World Photography Awards. The 2018 edition has set a record for the number of images sent by amateur and professional photographers from