Sony World Photography - 2014

This stunning picture, taken by YongSheng Zheng, from China, earned him recognition in the Sports category of this year's Sony World Photography Awards. (YongShengZheng/Sony World Photography Awards)

This stunning picture, taken by YongSheng Zheng, from China, earned him recognition in the Sports category of this year's Sony World Photography Awards. (YongShengZheng/Sony World Photography Awards)

Wet Dog, by Sophie Garmand from the U.S, is a series of dog portaits caught mid‐bath. The dogs are photographed at a vulnerable moment, half a second before they shake the water off their fur. Sophie's pictures capture their character and, in some cases, recognisable emotions (like annoyance, misery or vengefulness). (Sophie Garmand/Sony World Photography Awards) 

 Sparkle, Baby' explores girl culture in Australia within the phenomena of beauty pageants, particularly those directed at the young. Through documenting child pageants, photographer Chloe Bartram sought to understand if participating in these events increases the pressure on young girls to conform to an idealised view of what it means to be female or rather, is it a celebration of girlhood? (Chloe Bartram/Sony World Photography Awards) 

 Sparkle, Baby' explores girl culture in Australia within the phenomena of beauty pageants, particularly those directed at the young. Through documenting child pageants, photographer Chloe Bartram sought to understand if participating in these events increases the pressure on young girls to conform to an idealised view of what it means to be female or rather, is it a celebration of girlhood? (Chloe Bartram/Sony World Photography Awards) 

 Sungseok Ahn's 'Historic Present' questions the memory of past from the fast changing scenery of today. By overlapping a historical location with an old image of that exact place, he questions the way we treat our history and explores the dynamics. (Sungseok Ahn/Sony World Photography Awards)

This sample from a series of black and white photographs, entitled 'Bears and Birds', was taken in Svalbard, Norway, by Wilfred Berthelsen. Berthelsen is a finalist in the Travel category (Wilfred Berthelsen/Sony World Photography Awards)

 'Big Cat, Little Cat', shot by George Logan, is part of an advertising campaign for Whiskas cat food and is a shortlisted entry in the Campaign category (George Logan/Sony World Photography Awards)

 Emmanuel Coupe-Kalomiris has been shortlisted for a set of photographs called 'Aerial Series'. All images were taken in southern and central parts of Iceland. The areas were pictured from above and were carefully scouted and selected for their particular qualities such as formations and colour pallet. (Emmanuel Coupe-Kalomiris/Sony World Photography Awards)

 Neighbours' is a series showcasing typical Belgian double houses, taken by Herman Van Den Boom. As a finalist in the Architecture category, Van Den Boom frames perfectly the individuality behind every property. Every single building is an expression of uniqueness, judges say. (Herman Van Den Boom/Sony World Photography Awards) 

 Shanghai City is the backdrop for a series of pictures about living places and the way we deal with public space. Photographer Arjen Schmitz said: 'I work as a fine art artist with a 8x10 inch Sinar. Working with this camera forces me to select my pictures and subject very carefully in terms of cropping, light condition, an other circumstances wich could influence my picture.' (Arjen Schmitz/Sony World Photography Awards) 

 These images, by Carlotta Cardana, are from a personal project on couples who belong to the Mod scene, a subculture that originated in Britain in the late '50s and became very popular during the '60s. It is quite difficult to pin down what lies at the heart of this movement as it has evolved in many different ways during the years, but all Mods share a passion for everything related to the '50s and the '60s, especially the clothes and the music. (Carlotta Cardana/Sony World Photography Awards)

This shortlisted photograph of Lady Gaga's waxwork was shot by Fabrizio Cestari for the series, 'Wax System'. Fabrizio got the inspiration from celebraty portraits, combining real glances and fake faces, and said the experience was one of the most fun shoots at Madame Tussauds. (Fabrizio Cestari/Sony World Photography Awards)

 

Vinicio Drappo's collection 'Deep Night' demonstrates clubbing as a place of suspension and a daily routine. Vinicio is a finalist in the People category. (Vinicio Drappo/Sony World Photography Awards)

This collection earned photographer Kacper Kowalski a place as a finalist in the Landscape category. Kowalski, from Poland, said: 'I took to the skies above Poland to gain a vantage point over a country gripped by harsh winter. Temperatures can drop to ‐ 30 C degrees and stay below zero for months. The few specks of colour in these images are the only signs of human activity in this monochrome landscape' (Kacper Kowalski/Sony World Photography Awards)

Melissa Golden's photograph of the scene after a tornado hit a residential house in Moore, Oklahoma, has been shortlisted in the Current Affairs category. In this picture Destiny Pierman, 13 collects belongings from the damaged bedroom of her home. She and her mother feared the house had been leveled and were relieved to find that, although it was damaged, it was still standing. Destiny's epilepsy medication, the family's primary concern, was right where they had left it. (Melissa Golden/Sony World Photography Awards)