This year there were a record-breaking 230,103 entries to the world’s biggest photography competition: the Sony World Photography Awards.
Entries in three main categories — professional, open, and youth — were received from a record 186 countries.
Here, we’ve selected 17 of our favourite images that were shortlisted in the professional and open categories.
Official winners will be announced April 21, but we wouldn’t be surprised if these 17 make the cut.
Alexander Semenov/Sony World Photography Award
Russia, Shortlist, Professional: Environment
Matthias Hangst/Sony World Photography Award
Germanym, Shortlist, Professional: Sport
Attila Balogh/Sony World Photography Award
Hungary, Shortlist, Open: Architecture
Khairel Anuar/Sony World Photography Award
Malaysia, Shortlist, Open: Split Second
Filippo Venturi/Sony World Photography Award
Italy, Shortlist, Professional: People
Giancarlo Ceraudo/Sony World Photography Award
Italy, Shortlist, Professional: Candid
Karolis Janulis/Sony World Photography Award
Lithuania, Shortlist, Open: People
Lucy Nicholson/Sony World Photography Award
UK, Shortlist, Professional: Environment
Nikolai Linares/Sony World Photography Award
Denmark, Shortlist, Professional: Sport
Patrick Sinkel/Sony World Photography Award
Germany, Shortlist, Professional: Sport
Peter Voss/Sony World Photography Award
Germany, Shortlist, Open: Smile
Andrey Narchuk/Sony World Photography Award
Russia, Shortlist, Open: Nature and Wildlife
Rob Gregory/Sony World Photography Award
USA, Shortlist, Professional: Campaign
Stephan Zirwes/Sony World Photography Award
Germany, Shortlist, Professional: Architecture
Stephanie Sinclair/Sony World Photography Award
USA, Shortlist, Professional: Daily life
Tanveer Rohan/Sony World Photography Award
Bangladesh, Shortlist, Open: Arts and Culture
Tanveer Rohan/Sony World Photography Award
Hong Kong, Shortlist, Open: Travel
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