Category: WOW

“Ocean Drifter” by Ryan Stalker. British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 and Winner of Coast & Marine
Species: Goose barnacles (Thoracica) Location: Portland, Dorset, England
“Ocean Drifter is a photo of a football that is covered in goose barnacles below the waterline. Above the water is just a football. But below the waterline is a colony of creatures. The football was washed up in Dorset after making a huge ocean journey across the Atlantic and then returned to the sea for the photo to be taken. Goose barnacles are not native to the UK but can wash up on our shores during powerful Atlantic storms. Although the ball is waste, and should not be in the sea, I do wonder about the journey the ball has been on. From initially being lost, then spending time in the tropics where the barnacles are native and perhaps years in the open ocean before arriving in Dorset. However, this waste can also bring creatures that may survive in UK waters and could become invasive species. More human waste in the sea could increase the risk of more creatures making it to our shores.”

“Running on Water” by Max Wood. RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and Winner, 15-17 Years
Species: Coot (Fulica atra) Location: Frensham Little Pond, Surrey, England
“I woke up at 4:45 am with the hope of capturing backlit waterfowl images at Frensham Pond in Surrey. I lay down at the edge of the pond and waited for the birds to become active. As the morning progressed, rays of sunlight began to shine through trees along the edge of the pond, creating spotlights in the morning mist. This created a beautiful atmosphere, which I aimed to capture in my images. This coot was fleeing a fight, running across the water to take flight through the mist and rays of light.”

“Three’s a Crowd” by Ross Hoddinott. Winner, Hidden Britain
Species: Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) Location: Vealand Farm, Devon, England
“I think I have a slight addiction to photographing blue butterflies – I just love them! They are such beautiful little insects, and they enhance any wildflower meadow or garden they inhabit. Blues are quite social insects, and they can often be found roosting quite close together – or even on the same grass or flower. I found a dozen or so blues all resting close together one evening last summer. Using a shallow depth of field, I decided to ‘frame’ my subject with two out-of-focus butterflies to help add impact and context to my shot. The warm, evening light produced a vibrant natural background.”

“Starling at Night” by Mark Williams. Winner, Animal Portraits
Species: Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Location: Garden, Solihull, West Midlands, England
“I had been observing the birds in my garden as they fed on sunflower seeds and peanuts from the feeder for some time. I aimed to capture the sense of movement and flight patterns in my images while still preserving the fine details of the birds. To achieve this, I used flash in rear curtain sync mode. Timing was crucial, and I needed to carefully balance the flash with the ambient light to record the starling’s trail at the beginning of the exposure, while a brief burst of flash would freeze the bird in mid-flight.”

“Dancing in the Dark” by Matthew Glover. Runner-up, Animal Behaviour
Species: Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Location: Killingworth, North Tyneside, England
“‘Dancing in the Dark’ portrays a pair of great crested grebes engaged in their courtship ritual at sunrise. This carefully choreographed dance serves to strengthen their bonds during the mating season. The photo was captured in the early hours on an urban lake in North Tyneside – once a former mining site, now thriving with wildlife, it hosts up to four separate pairs of grebes, competing for territory and displaying their flamboyant courtship style. Spending considerable time with these birds, I’ve learned to anticipate their courtship ‘dances’ and be prepared to capture these beautiful moments.”

“Three Frogs in Amplexus” by Ian Mason. Winner, Animal Behaviour
Species: Common frog (Rana temporaria) Location: Perthshire, Scotland
“Every March, our garden ponds suddenly come alive with hundreds of frogs that seem to appear overnight from nowhere. I have been photographing them for many years, and I am always fascinated and amused by their antics. Here, there has been a competition to mate with a female. For a lot of the time there is a frenzy of activity, but sometimes they freeze long enough to get a shot. The image is taken with the lens at water level, and the background is a distant larch tree.”

“Sunrise Hare” by Spencer Burrows. Runner-up, Animal Portraits
Species: Brown hare (Lepus europaeus) Location: Nottinghamshire, England
“I’m fortunate enough to have access to a private farm and have spent a lot of time with brown hares over the past couple of years. During this time, I’ve invested many hours into developing fieldcraft and gaining a good understanding of their behavior, allowing me to get close without disturbing the animal – hares are often skittish. For this image, I lay low and silent in a spot of the field they tend to follow from the hedgerow. This hare was very relaxed and allowed me to capture some portraits as the sun was starting to rise over the field.”

“Beech for the Sky” by Graham Niven. Winner, Wild Woods
Species: Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Location: East Lothian, Scotland
“Beech tree grove near Dunbar in East Lothian. When the leaves are almost gone, the branches show their ‘canopy shyness’ – a phenomenon observed in many species of trees in which the crowns of mature trees do not touch each other. In doing so, the trees form a canopy that has channel-like gaps which, when photographed from below, appear to create an intricate network of channels between the respective canopies. Besides the wondrous vision you are afforded, it’s also just a great excuse to lie down in the forest.”

“The Tightrope Walker” by Daniel Valverde Fernandez. Winner, Habitat
Species: Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Location: Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nottinghamshire, England
“In this image, you can see a red fox walking along a tree branch at a considerable height from the ground, demonstrating that these animals are true tightrope walkers of nature. The fox is perfectly framed between the branches and its silhouette is subtly highlighted by the sun’s rays falling on it.”

“Tiny Forest Balloons” by Jason McCombe. Winner, Botanical Britain
Species: Slime mold (Comatricha nigra) Location: Essex, England
“The world of slime molds is fascinating. They’re neither plants nor fungi. I had never noticed them before, but when I set out to find some to photograph, I discovered that, if conditions are right, they’re everywhere! They’re just so small that if you are not looking for them you will simply overlook them. Each head on these fruiting bodies is approximately 1mm wide, and the depth of field when shooting at such high magnification is so shallow that focus stacking is required. This image was made using 160 images, each focused on a different area of the scene, then stacked together to create one highly detailed image.”

“Squirrel Silhouette” by Rosamund Macfarlane. Runner-up, Black & White
Species: Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) Location: Cumbria, England
“Red squirrels are native and cherished in Cumbria, although they face competition and disease from grey squirrels. These charming creatures visit our garden daily for hazelnuts, and I can capture their antics without causing disturbance. During winter, when food is scarce, providing for them feels like helping our native population. This spring, young kits joined the adults for breakfast, and capturing their dynamic movements against the sky was a fascinating challenge.”

“Raven Above Arran” by Robin Dodd. Winner, Black & White
Species: Raven (Corvus corax) Location: Isle of Arran, Scotland
“This is a shot from the top of Goatfell on the Isle of Arran, which is the highest mountain on the island. It was a lovely hike to the top on a bright summer afternoon after arriving by ferry a few hours before. When we reached the summit, it was deserted except for two ravens who seemed to dominate the peak. We sat for some time, observing these birds gliding over Arran just as gracefully as any bird of prey. It’s a harsh yet beautiful world they inhabit. This image is in black and white and consists of two shots, focus stacked.”

“Spring’s Treasures” by Jamie Smart. Winner, 11 and under
Species: Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Location: Mid Wales
“We got up very, very early one cold (-5°C), misty morning in spring in an effort to try to find some boxing hares up on the moorland. On our way there, I spotted this pheasant sitting on a farm gate in the morning sunrise. I made Dad stop the car and reverse slowly, quietly opened my car window, and managed to get this photo of him in all his beauty, with the blackthorn blossom behind him and the sun rays lighting up his copper breast feathers. As it happens, we didn’t get to see any hares boxing that morning, but Mr. Pheasant making this appearance really made up for it!”

“Mother and Fawn” by Felix Walker-Nix. Winner, 12-14 years
Species: Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) Location: Sherfield on Loddon, England
“Walking through the woods, I spotted this roe doe grazing the foliage. Slowly, I crept towards her, careful not to startle her. To my delight, when she turned around, I saw a small fawn staring back at me! Keeping quiet, I raised the camera to take some photos, then swiftly left so I didn’t disturb the young fawn and mother any longer. It was an incredible experience to see a ‘humbug’ patterned fawn before it lost its spots, and it was a magical experience to get so close.”

“Rainbow at Dawn” by Martin Stevens. Runner-up, Botanical Britain
Species: Rainbow wrack (Cystoseira tamariscifolia) Location: Falmouth, Cornwall, England
“I’ve had a mild obsession with rainbow wrack seaweed for years, with its spectacular iridescent blue color. I’d taken many photos of it before, but I had long had in mind a split shot of it in a rock pool at sunrise. It required planning and luck because the seaweed only grows back in spring, being most colorful for a few weeks before the summer sun dulls its color. I needed a low tide to expose the pools, in sync with sunrise – and a sunny morning! Fortunately, on one day it all came together. Taken with strobes on low power to light the seaweed.”

“Daisy Danger” by Lucien Harris. Runner-up, Hidden Britain
Species: Flower crab spider (Misumena vatia) and Honey bee (Apis mellifera) Location: Lee Mill, Devon, England
“This photo was taken in a patch of land along the A30 in Devon that has been left untouched for a long time, making it a haven for wildflowers and the wildlife that inhabits it. Using the Laowa wide-angle macro lens, I aimed to capture this scene. While walking, I came across a flower crab spider wrestling with a bee on an ox-eye daisy. The light was behind the subject, which backlit the flower nicely. However, the spider itself was quite dark, so I used some flashes and homemade flash diffusers to illuminate it. This allowed me to capture the deadly strength of these ambush predators.“

“Day Walker” by Simon Withyman. Winner, Urban Wildlife
Species: Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Location: Bristol, England
“This vixen had taken up residence in an electricity substation after being pushed out of her parental territory. The fenced-off area provided her with a quiet place to rest away from the busy city. She would often walk along this wall, and I was able to capture this photo through the gaps in the metal fencing, while making the most of some striking lens flare.”

“Fire in the Night” by Dan Bolt. Runner-up, Coast & Marine
Species: Fireworks anemone (Pachycerianthus multiplicatus) Location: Loch Fyne, Scotland
“Fluorescence photography requires specialist filters: one ‘exciter’ filter on your white-light source to create the blue light and another ‘barrier’ filter in front of your lens to reduce the ambient light reaching your sensor. These dual filters mean that high ISOs and open apertures are very much required in order to capture the excited, or fluoresced, light. The subject requires a careful approach too; these anemones live in very still water and are sensitive to the slightest movement. If disturbed, they will retract in mere seconds.”

“What’s All the Fuss About?” by Will Palmer. Runner-up, Urban Wildlife
Species: Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
“In this photograph, the Arctic walrus who had come ashore to rest on the harbor slipway in Scarborough has lifted its head as a car passed on Foreshore Road. The image is lit by the streetlights to the left and features the town’s fishing boats in the background. Despite being taken handheld at 1/80th of a second at f/1.6, an ISO of 6400 was still needed to properly expose Thor and the slipway at 2:28 am.”

“Into the Mist” by Philip Selby. Runner-up, Wild Woods
Species: Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Location: Badbury Hill, Oxfordshire, England
“On the remains of an Iron Age hill fort on Badbury Hill in Oxfordshire, Badbury Clump is an area of wonderful beech woodland, carpeted in bluebells each spring. Like most photographers during those precious few weeks of spring, it’s a time of anxious weather forecast watching, hoping that atmospheric weather conditions and schedules align. Luckily, the woodland was shrouded in dense fog on this particular morning, and the vibrant new beech leaves and subtle hues of the bluebells added a contrasting splash of color to the otherwise monochromatic scene.”

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Fake shamrock, laceleaf, and jade plant.

Prickly pear, Pincushion cactus, and succulent.

Venus flytrap, Pitcher plant, and red sundew.

“The Little Boatman” by Vikas Datta (Dehli, India). To start with Put.
“It was however dim when I achieved the banking institutions of the Yamuna River in North Delhi to see for myself a bizarre spectacle of newlyweds and before long-to-be-married couples arranging marriage photoshoots on this stinking cesspool of what was as soon as a river. Originating in the Himalayas, the river winds its way down the mountains by way of the northern plains of India. The river, which is a lifestyle supply for tens of millions of individuals, the river on whose banking institutions the Taj Mahal was built…. that river enters Delhi by means of the Wazirabad barrage, to die. As I walked down the stairs of the embankment, I could smell the stink of sewage and see the garbage and harmful waste floating in the river. A number of partners dressed in their marriage finery ended up remaining photographed by about-enthusiastic marriage photographers. A boy sitting down in 1 of the row boats, not much more than twelve or thirteen, beckoned me in the direction of him. I can get you, he explained, only five hundred rupees. I stepped into his boat, and we established off down the river. He pointed to a plastic bag and reported, “Take that for the birds. Fifty rupees only.” I opened the bag, grabbed a handful of the salted fried treats, and flung it in the direction of the birds. The small boatman stood up and heaved on the oars hard, “Full pace ahead,” he shouted. As the solar rose, the golden light-weight brightened the fog on the river. Couples in other boats held palms and their breath as the cameras clicked and captured their exclusive second of new beginnings. Meanwhile, the boat sliced via the dark, useless river, with seagulls traveling together with.”

“The Photographer’s Assistant” by Alejandra Lopez Zaballa (Oaxaca, Mexico). Second Place.
“This impression is element of a prolonged undertaking (8 decades now) I did in a Girls’ caring home in Oaxaca (south of Mexico). The goal was to display and give voice to “orphan” children. To carry on boosting awareness about a social problem that has existed for good but, as a modern society, we appear not to have settled quite properly. I went so several moments to this area that early on, it became natural for the girls that I would be there, peaceful, taking images and later on on taking part in with them. The reality that for them I was portion of the caring household created them truly feel comfortable so that at times they “created” spontaneously some images, like this one particular. The girls had been just talking, and I was going to choose a photo of them when the a single on the right made the decision to be like the “stylist” of the one on the remaining and manufactured her pose. I liked how by natural means and gracefully she was going her face. I beloved that even nevertheless they did not pose for the venture, they felt they wished to do it and assistance in their very own way. It was pure chemistry and connection without conversing.”

“Stairway Standoff” by Laurin Strele (Herat, Afghanistan). 3rd Location.
“In Herat jihad-museum, there’s a staircase lined with lifelike puppets of Mujahideen fighters. No faces, just silent soldiers. A Taliban man climbs up. At the heart, yet another Taliban sits, gun in hand, wanting straight at the camera. I stood at the top rated of the staircase, on the lookout down. I snapped a photograph of what lay down below. The quiet figures, both puppets and individuals, appeared to tell a story without the need of words and phrases. It is a picture of history, the place puppets and men and women blur the line involving reality and illustration. Every single figure, whether carved or flesh, weaves a thread in Afghanistan’s narrative.”

“The Car or truck Boys” by Rebecca Moseman (Carrowbrowne Halting Web-site, Galway, Eire). Finalist.
“Billy, Steven, and Paddy, a few Irish Traveler. Boys use an abandoned car as their playground. The boys have no pure locations to enjoy, so they show boredom, irritation, and aggression by destroying the motor vehicle. The Carrow Browne halting web-site, a rat-infested web-site, is positioned on the outskirts of Galway Metropolis up coming to a squander administration internet site. Although the internet site was meant to be short term, it has turn out to be their lasting living space. The Irish Travellers are a proud and reclusive people today, keeping a tradition and traditions whose origins are misplaced in time. In the fall of 2017, I experienced the possibility to be amongst them less than the supervision of a fellow photographer who offered entry to their entire world and allowed me to photograph their life. This sequence of pictures demonstrates my personalized interactions with the Travelers I was privileged to connect with.”

“The Mundari and their treasured cows.” by France Leclerc (South Sudan). Finalist.
“Indigenous to the Nile Valley, the Mundari is a tiny ethnic team of approximately 100,000 people. As is the case for numerous other tribes in the area, every thing is about the cows for the Mundari. Cattle are the Mundari’s main resource of prosperity the cows serve as a sort of currency and, as this sort of, have come to be a image of status and electric power. And the cows are superb. These Ankole-Watusi cows are gigantic and have amazing curly horns.”

“Stilt fishermen of Weligama” by Andrea Peruzzi (Weligama, Sri Lanka). Finalist.
“At the initially gentle of dawn, when no a single still wanders alongside the seashores of southern Sri Lanka, some community fishermen try their hand at the intriguing and scenic fishing on stilts, which are trapped in the sand in the center of the sea. An ancient community fishing customized, which luckily some aged fishermen carry on to exercise, and is not just a faux photographic set for holidaymakers, as it is frequently feasible to come upon in some areas in the country for the duration of the working day.”

“The pursuit of water” by Eliane Band (Gujarat, India). Finalist.
“In the hinterlands of Gujarat, India, lies a Rabari Neighborhood Village exactly where I could witness the essence of a each day ritual – the arduous job of fetching and carrying h2o for vital wants. What truly resonated with my heart was witnessing the metamorphosis of this challenging everyday action into a serene and poetic scene. The image not only encapsulates the actual physical act of drinking water collection but also serves as a poignant reflection of the community’s strategy in direction of this day by day chore – just one marked by grace, beauty, and an inherent acceptance of their instances. This juxtaposition, caught in the frame, encapsulates the resilience and transcendent spirit of the Rabari persons as they navigate the complexities of their everyday lives.”

“Nameless1” by Hossein Fardinfard (Tskaltubo, Ga). Finalist.
“From the series ‘Blackout.’ Merry is just one of the victims of the 1992 war in Abkhazia. Her brother and her 53-year-aged husband had been each murdered by Abkhazian separatist forces. With an wounded leg, she escaped and hid in a forest for two weeks. Following a very long journey, she attained her new residence in Tskaltubo. Individually, Merry and this photograph symbolize hope for me.”

“Evans & Charles” by George McLeod (Nkoranza, Ghana). Finalist.
“Part of an ongoing task documenting the local local community revolving all over corn farming and output. I expended two weeks there and took a single photo for the reason that I required to get to know men and women and develop believe in right before demonstrating up with my digital camera, and so this was shot on the last night time of the two men I received to know the finest. Evans & Charles. Tremendous awesome men who were being up for becoming in the 1st picture of the venture. Evans is the internet site foreman and Charles is the nighttime protection guard, I wished to pose them, but specifically as I’d observed them many instances. I may have moved the motorbikes for a much better composition, as well.”

“Untitled 1” by Afroditi Diamantopoulou. Finalist.
“The picture sequence titled “(No) Tales to Be Told” delves into my inner journey from the current to the previous. It types a discourse with my non-public family members selection, the two virtually and symbolically, as the men and women portrayed in the photos are portion of my relatives, prolonged kinfolk, and buddies. By manipulating these images and aligning them with the existing instant, I endeavor to unravel their characters, narratives, and roles. Through this course of action, I strive to recreate the earlier, appraise their actions, and redefine my job in just the household dynamic and the historical past.”

“Zenande, Sinawe, Zinathi and Buhle at Sea Point Pavilion, Cape Town” © Michelle Sank, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“This image is part of my ongoing series Ballade, which is a poetic homage to my birthplace. My strongest memories are of Sea Point Promenade and the Pavilion swimming pool, although due to apartheid, they were only for the privileged white population. Returning in 2023, I was again drawn to these spaces where little seems to have changed in terms of structure and recreation, but they now celebrate cultural and social diversity.”

“Caiman Crunch” © Ian Ford, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“We had bid farewell to our São Lourenço River lodge, marking the end of our Pantanal adventure, but as we were leaving, we heard that a jaguar had been spotted roughly 30 minutes away. We raced to the scene and encountered this sleek female jaguar stalking her prey. Our boat – and my camera – was perfectly positioned as she pounced on an unsuspecting caiman.”

“Moonrise Sprites over Storr” © Liam Man, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“As a moonrise burns across the horizon, lights dance above the Old Man of Storr in Scotland. This iconic rock formation was illuminated with powerful lights attached to drones, which cut through the darkness to reveal the icy landscape. Blizzards howled for the majority of the night, leaving mere minutes to execute this photograph before the moon became too bright.”

“Falling Out of Time” © Ana Skobe, Slovenia, Winner, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“Bathed in soft evening light, a lighthouse rises into the clear sky, its clean, sleek, geometric design contrasting with the coastal landscape. Positioned at its base is a figure – a contemplative man gazing out at the expanse of the ocean before him. The juxtaposition of the solitary silhouette against the infinite horizon creates a moment of reflection and connection with the vastness of the ocean.”

“Twende Ziwani (Let’s go to the Lake)” © Alvin Kamau, Kenya, Winner, Open Competition, Lifestyle, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“This editorial photoshoot was inspired by haute couture fashion culture. The photograph was taken in a studio in Nairobi, Kenya. ‘Twende Ziwani’ is Swahili for ‘Let’s go to the Lake’. The model’s pose shows him carrying his shoes on his shoulders while looking to his side. The title also refers to Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the source of the Nile River.”

“The Hand” © Callie Eh, Malaysia, Winner, Open Competition, Street Photography, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“A groom waves enthusiastically while passing by during a ceremonial procession for a wedding in Bhaktapur, Nepal.”

Untitled © Rob Blanken, Netherlands, Winner, Open Competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“A 5x enlargement of crystals of amino acids (B-alanine, L-glutamine and glycine), photographed with the help of polarizing filters.”

“Rider Getting Down and Dirty” © Samuel Andersen, Norway, Winner, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“A rider passes through a muddy part of the course at the Norwegian National Championships in Hafjell Bike Park, Norway. As I was using an 11mm fisheye lens I needed to get really close to get this shot, and both myself and my gear ended up getting splashed. It was worth it, though, as the backlighting from this angle was very effective.”

“Coalition” © Toni Rinaldo, Indonesia, Winner, Open Competition, Object, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“I took this picture in a waiting room. The difference in color of the two chairs next to one another caught my eye. This reminded me of my country, Indonesia, where different cultures exist side by side, and that is what makes people interested in visiting it.”

“Between Calm and Catastrophe” © Yan Li, China Mainland, Winner, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“On Lake Titicaca, between Peru and Bolivia, a tranquil floating village stands in stark contrast to the approaching wildfire, a dramatic testament to nature’s dual disposition.”

“The Orange Man” © Philip Joyce, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“Jama Elmi is a well-known member of the London Colour-Walk community, which meets every month to celebrate color and personal style. This picture was taken when I met him in the street and approached him to take a portrait.”

“Sea Level” © Bin Yang, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“The sea level markers I saw on a trip to Death Valley, California, reminded me of the waterfowl that once lived in the area. Concerned about climate change and the increasing drought in the western United States, I placed photographs of waterfowl in a surreal desert setting in the hope that it would serve as a reminder that humans need to do the right thing when it comes to climate change.”

“Hemispheric” © Eng Tong Tan, Malaysia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) in Valencia, Spain.”

“Saludo Sony” © Jesus Frias, Spain, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“A mother elephant greets her daughter. I called the little one Sonia, or Sony.”

“Spire” © Marcin Zajac, Poland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“A strange spire juts out of the barren landscape of the Utah Badlands, bathing in the golden light of the setting sun. Standing 25 meters tall, its otherworldly appearance is more reminiscent of a Star Wars film than anything you would expect to see on Earth.”

“Dancing Queens” © Natalie Strohmaier, Germany, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“This picture is part of my Unattainable Beauty series, which explores the artificial creation of beauty. The ‘flower models’ were hand assembled using needles to hold them and photographed in the studio. I adjusted the saturation, contrast, color, and brightness in Capture One, then used Photoshop to remove the needles and clean the picture.”

“Traffic Circle” © Lim Chien Ting, Malaysia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“The design of the Pearl Ring Roundabout in Beijing, China, harmonizes seamlessly with the detailed patterns of its surroundings.”

“Fisherman and his Goldfish” © Tetiana Nikitina, Ukraine, Shortlist, Open Competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“This photograph was taken when my parents came to visit me in Portugal. My dad is not very independent; he’s like a small child who always needs help and support, and my mum helps him with everything, whether it’s filling out documents or going to the doctor. I decided to create this image to present my mum as a real goldfish that grants wishes. My dad is very lucky.”

“The Turning White Horse” © Sarah Wouters, Netherlands, Shortlist, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“During a trip to Cappadocia, Turkey, I went to Göreme Valley early in the morning to photograph the hot air balloons taking off near the horse stables. The horses were running around, which enabled me to capture this image.”

“Still Waiting” © Sonia De Wit, Belgium, Shortlist, Open Competition, Street Photography, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“Walking past this pub, I looked through the window and saw this little dog waiting for his owner. I went inside and took this photograph – I didn’t have time for a second one.”

“Baobab Road” © John Seager, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
“The Allée des Baobabs in Madagascar is probably one of the best places on the planet for viewing the incredible baobab trees. Using a drone, I was able to compose the striking outlines of the baobabs along the road, creating an unforgettable atmosphere in the very last moments of the beautiful sunset.”