2019 SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

Eight Italian photographers awarded in the stunning shortlist of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards’ Open competition

February 5, 2019: The World Photography Organisation today reveals the shortlisted photographers for the Open and Youth competitions of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards, recognising the eight Italian photographers who are behind some of the world’s best single images taken in 2018.

The success of the Italian photographers is remarkable as the 2019 Awards received its highest ever number of entries – 326,997 from 195 countries.

The Open shortlist comprises stunning works selected across ten diverse categories and features eight Italian photographers across seven categories.

Alessandro Zanoni, Culture category

Graphic designer Alessandro Zanoni is recognised in the Culture category. His work Bright Minuet was taken next to the Gyeongbokgung Palace main gate, in Seoul. Its aim is to underline the contrasts in a fast-changing city, where traditions and modernity are often crossing each other

Sara Bianchi, Landscape category

In the Landscape category, Sara Bianchi showcases the snow-covered terrain of the Yamal Peninsula against the Northern Lights. The area is the natural habitat of the Nenets people and their reindeer.

Marco Zaffignani, Travel category (Milan)

Milan-based Marco Zaffignani is recognised in the Travel category for his image Whale Shark Encounter. Shot in the Teluk Cenderawasih National Park, West Papua, the image beautifully depicts the photographer’s meeting with whale sharks in September 2018.

Also shortlisted in the Open competition is:

Rosaria Sabrina Pantano, Street Photography category, Walking Among the Stars
Alessandro Zunino, Creative category, Wires and Pigeons
Niccolò Cozzi, Portraiture category, Portrait in Night Lights
David Salvatori, Natural World & Wildlife category, The Assault
Roberto Marchegiana, Natural World & Wildlife category, Ethiopian Wolf

All those shortlisted now go on to compete against talented photographers from across the world to win their categories and have the chance to become Open Photographer of the Year, with prizes including the latest cutting-edge Sony camera equipment, flights to the London Awards ceremony, and $5000 USD for the overall Open winner. The shortlisted Italian photographs will all be shown at the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London and then toured globally. The works will also be published in the annual Awards’ book.

Produced by the World Photography Organisation, the internationally acclaimed Sony World Photography Awards are one of the most important fixtures on the global photographic calendar. The Awards are now in their 12th year of partnership with headline sponsor Sony, and consist of four competitions in total: Professional (for a body of works), Open (for a single image), Student (for academic institutions) and Youth (for 12-19 year olds). The Professional competition shortlist will be announced March 26.