Winners Of 2017’s Sony World Photography Awards

The Sony World Photography Awards bring us the most awe-inspiring photos from around the globe every year, and 2017's freshly announced winners are sure to leave you speechless. The competition hands awards out to 4 different categories: Professional (body of work), open (single images), youth (photographers aged 12-19), and student focus. National Awards are also presented to one photo from each participating country. Depending on the category, winners take home cash prizes, Sony digital imaging equipment, and the opportunity the have their photo featured in an exhibition. This year the winners' exposition will be held in London. See if your favorites from the shortlist ended up winning below, and vote for the ones that deserved it most. You can also check out the winners from 2014, and the 2015 shortlist. More info: Sony World Photography Awards 2017

#1 Khalid Alsabat, Saudi Arabia National Award

Alsabat captured this image of an elderly fisherman casting his net in Yangzhou, China. Photographer: Khalid Alsabat

#2 Camilo Diaz, Colombia National Award

Submerged field. Everyday aims towards a collective goal. The Colombian national team is immersed in white, grey, and black, fighting together for the ultimate position. With accredited prestige, an invitation was sent to participate in the European Junior Championship, as a guest team. Ana Maria and her team are constantly fighting, pushing their lungs to the limit and transforming their everyday lack of resources to an idea of opportunity. The volume of water suggests a calm while the surface gives constant chaos. It is in this scenario that the South American team is named youth world champion winners in Norway. Photographer: Camilo Diaz

#3 Homare Hamada, Japan National Award

Hamada captured the full trajectory launch of the Stork rocket by using long exposure. Photographer: Homare Hamada

#4 Peter Svoboda, Slovakia National Award

Light from above. The picture "Light from above" was taken in September 2016 in Santa Maddalena, Dolomiten, Italy. Beautiful light and humidity stood behind the nice play of light and shadows that morning. I was waiting as the small church was illuminated by the very first rays of Sun. Photographer: Peter Svoboda

#5 Andreas Hemb, Sweden National Award

A herd of cape Buffaloes drink at a watering hole at Zimanga Private Games Reserve, South Africa. Taken on tripod with first exposure lit for buffaloes and without changing camera position second exposure without light and focused on the stars instead of the buffaloes. Photographer: Andreas Hemb

#6 Shashanka Chitrakar, Nepal National Award

Photographer: Shashanka Chitrakar

#7 Jelena Jankovic, Serbia National Award

EXIST. The year 2016. reminds me the time in which selfie culture determines our existence if we were somewhere or doing something. The photo was taken at a concert Massive Attack in Pula/Croatia. Photographer: Jelena Jankovic

#8 Luis Godinho, Portugal National Award

Photographer: Luis Godinho

#9 Petar Sabol, Croatia National Award

This image titled Swirl was shot at the beginning of 2016. at local pond near Palovec. It shows the moment a small bird kingfisher flies out of water with a little fish in his beak. Photographer: Petar Sabol

#10 Jim Chen, Taiwan National Award

Photographer: Jim Chen

#11 Jonatan Banista, Central America National Award

Cautelosa / Cautious. Taken on June 12, 2016, while working in the field, this iguana was near a small creek had done several reptile shots until I got this one. Photographer: Jonatan Banista  

#12 Shabir Mian, Pakistan National Award

Photographer: Shabir Mian

#13 Katerina Annenkova, Latvia National Award

Photographer: Katerina Annenkova

#14 Alessandra Meniconzi, Switzerland National Award

Meniconzi captured this image of a flock of flamingos in the shallow waters of Walvis Bay, on the Namibian coast in Summer 2016. Photographer: Alessandra Meniconzi

#15 Kyaw Win Hlaing, Myanmar National Award

This image was taken at Sadan Cave, Pahan township, Karin State in Myanmar. Photographer: Kyaw Win Hlaing

#16 Jianguo Gong, China National Award

Tai Chi. December 10, 2016. Wuhan city in Hubei Province, the Yangtze River, more than 1 thousand and 300 people practicing taijiquan. Photographer: Jianguo Gong

#17 Simona Nalepkova, Czech Republic National Award

Photographer: Simona Nalepkova

#18 Deveni Nishantha Manjula, Sri Lanka National Award

Sleeping beauty. During a game drive in Lake Nakuru national park in September 2016 we noticed this lioness on a tree. With the reputation of tree climbing lions in Lake Nakuru we were not surprised to see this lioness on the tree. With the light levels depleting quickly due to adverse weather conditions I made this picture to show the environment of the subject. Photographer: Deveni Nishantha Manjula

#19 Ales Komovec, Slovenia National Award

Photographer: Ales Komovec

#20 Ewa Cwikla, Netherlands National Award

Photographer: Ewa Cwikla

#21 Alexander Vinogradov, Russian Federation

Mathilda. Inspired by the movie Leon. Model: Anastasiya Marinina. Photographer: Alexander Vinogradov

#22 Cesar Augusto Gaitan Cortez, Ecuador National Award

Photographer: Cesar Augusto Gaitan Cortez

#23 Ivan Miladinov, Bulgaria National Award

Photographer: Ivan Miladinov

#24 Constantinos Sofikitis, Greece National Award

Halloween Protagonists. Halloween in NYC, one of the world's most unique parades and the spookiest holiday in the fall. Photographer: Constantinos Sofikitis

#25 Firos Syed, Qatar National Award

Photographer: Firos Syed

#26 Josselin Cornou, France National Award

Tabular iceberg. In March 2016, I headed to the Antarctic Peninsula, as part of an expedition with explorer Robert Swan. On our way to the 66th parallel south, our boat was navigating in silence through 30 meter (100 feet) high tabular icebergs that were once part of the Larsen Ice Shelf. Those mesmerizing structures were displaying subzero icy corridors, forming a highly photogenic gargantuan maze. The scene was magnificent, but also incredibly scary. I took my camera, I had to show the world the impact that global warming has had. Equipped with a 70-200mm, I started to play with the magnificent landscape around me, trying to display the geometric magnificence of those structures. After envisioning the shot, I had to wait the right moment, and had only a few seconds to get it right. Photographer: Josselin Cornou

#27 Mustafa Jindi, Uae National Award

Transportation. I took this photo in Abu Dhabi, at one of past September morning days, a painting on the wall grabbed my attention, due to it represents UAE past culture. It made me bring my son, dress him with the Local traditional outfit that he loves the most, and made him play around with his tiny car under; the paint, which reflects the great progress and innovation, that UAE witnessed in saving its own precious culture background. Photographer: Mustafa Jindi

#28 Tadas Kazakevicius, Lithuania National Award

Photographer: Tadas Kazakevicius

#29 Chun Kin Tong, China National Award

Photographer: Chun Kin Tong

#30 Polpich Komson, Thailand National Award

Photographer: Polpich Komson

#31 Lester Koh, Singapore National Award

Lester has captured this image of one of Singapore's Oldest Public housing buildings. He shot the picture at dawn on Singapore's 51st National Day in August 2016. Photographer: Lester Koh

#32 Annela Samuel, Estonia National Award

Photographer: Annela Samuel

#33 Francisco Ubilla, Chile National Award

Shot from above Ubilla captured this woman at the central post offices of Chile. Photographer: Francisco Ubilla

#34 Mark Vicente, Philippines National Award

Photographer: Mark Vicente

#35 Alex Andriesi, Romania National Award

Photographer: Alex Andriesi

#36 Tim Cornbill, UK National Award

Concrete Circle. Having just arrived in Berlin on a bright summer's day, my wife and I decided to take a morning walk along the River Spree. We soon came across a large concrete building, and I was immediately struck by its geometry and scale. Across the river, I positioned myself for a single point perspective and waited for the right moment to capture it. A couple came into the viewfinder and I noticed the cyclist out of the corner of my eye. I waited for them to move into the frame and hit the shutter to try and balance the composition. Photographer: Tim Cornbill

#37 Mohammad Amir Hamja, Bangladesh National Award

Photographer: Mohammad Amir Hamja

#38 Antti Hallakorpi, Finland National Award

Photographer: Antti Hallakorpi

#39 Santos Moreno Villar, Spain National Award

Photographer: Santos Moreno Villar

#40 Zani Arkadina, Ukraine National Award

Photographer: Zani Arkadina

#41 Mohamed Roushdy El Dor, Egypt National Award

Photographer: Mohamed Roushdy El dor

#42 Edina Csoboth, Hungary National Award

Photographer: Edina Csoboth

#43 Ralph Graf, Germany National Award

Gassing Up At Roy's. Roy's Cafe, gas station and motel in Amboy, California. Part of my series "Roadside America". This photo was taken at the Historic Route 66. Photographer: Ralph Graf

#44 Miriam Strong, New Zealand National Award

Photographer: Miriam Strong

#45 Nikunj Rathod, India National Award

Photographer: Nikunj Rathod

#46 Henning S. Pettersen, Norway National Award

Photographer: Henning S. Pettersen

#47 Ngoc Mai Nguyen, Vietnam National Award

Photographer: Ngoc Mai Nguyen

#48 Ly Min, Cambodia National Award

Photographer: Ly Min

#49 Alexander Vinogradov, Russian Federation National Award

Photographer: Alexander Vinogradov

#50 Emrah Karakos, Turkey National Award

Photographer: Emrah Karakoc

#51 Austin Odunga, Kenya National Award

Photographer: Austin Odunga

#52 Arek Rataj, Poland National Award

Photographer: Arek Rataj

#53 Carloman Macidiano Cespedes Riojas, Peru National Award

Algo casual 2. This image is a criticism of modern relationships and the distance between human beings in their daily interactions. Photographer: Carloman Macidiano Cespedes Riojas

#54 Jian Seng Soh, Malaysia National Award

Photographer: Jian Seng Soh

#55 Lise Johansson, Denmark National Award

The series Hearth explores what it means to feel at home. The inspiration for the work came from the personal experience of Johansson returning to Denmark after many years of living abroad and realising he had lost the warm sense of belonging I once he had. This feeling of loss can be felt when viewing the photograph. Photographer: Lise Johansson

#56 Julian Walkner, Austria National Award

Photographer: Julian Walkner

#57 Seung Jong Lee, Republic Of Korea National Award

Los Angeles 2016. Los Angeles Street Photography. Photographer: Seung Jong Lee

#58 Jose Maria Perez Nunez, Argentina National Award

Photographer: Jose Maria Perez Nunez

#59 Tania Franco Klein, Mexico National Award

Photographer: Tania Franco Klein

#60 Katrijn Van Giel, Belgium National Award

Photographer: Katrijn Van Giel

#61 Evan George, Australia National Award

Photographer: Evan George

#62 Harley Yang, Canada National Award

Photographer: Harley Yang

#63 Argus Paul Estabrook, USA National Award

Photographer: Argus Paul Estabrook

#64 Bernard Ward, Ireland National Award

Photographer: Bernard Ward

#65 Fajar Kristianto, Indonesia National Award

Photographer: Fajar Kristianto