© James Crombie, Ireland, Shortlist, Open competition, Natural World and Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2022.

Lough Ennell murmuration photo goes on winning

SWPA Open Competition Category Winners and Shortlist Announced

James Crombie’s stunning photo of a starling murmuration over Lough Ennell goes on winning awards across the globe.

This week, the World Photography Organisation announced the category winners and shortlist in the Open competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2022, recognising the best single shots from 2021.

Jame’s photo is shortlisted in the Open competition, 'Natural World and Wildlife'.

It is one of more than 170,000 images that were entered to this year’s Open competition.

More than 100 photographers were shortlisted in addition to the 10 category winners.

Each winner receives digital imaging equipment from Sony and will go on to compete for the prestigious Open Photographer of the Year title and a $5,000 (USD) prize.

The overall winner of the Open competition will be announced on the 12 April. Selected work by winners and shortlisted entries will be exhibited as part of the Sony World Photography Awards at Somerset House from 13 April-2 May 2022.

This year’s Open competition was judged by Hideko Kataoka, director of photography at Newsweek Japan, who said: “I enjoyed judging this wide variety of categories from Object to Street Photography. Creativity and originality were important in choosing a winning image and it was terrific to see the excitement and joy of the photographers when they captured the moment.

“The photographs in this competition each make a coherent visual statement about a situation or particular circumstance in an elegant visual way. As can be seen in many images in the shortlist this year, black and white photography holds a special place in the hearts of many photographers. The simplicity of black and white has the power to distil the content of an image, and direct the viewer’s attention to the subject.”

The overall winners in the Student, Youth, Open and Professional competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2022 will be announced on the 12 April and will go on display as part of the exhibition at Somerset House, London from 13 April to 2 May 2022.

For more information about winners and shortlists, visit www.worldphoto.org