Adam Ferguson from Australia has been declared the Photographer of the Year and accordingly wins the $25,000 prize along with a collection of Sony digital imaging kit. The ten category winners, second and third places in the Professional competition and the overall winners of the Open, Student and Youth competitions have also been revealed.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2022 exhibition opens at Somerset House, London from 13 April – 2 May 2022 with over 300 prints and digital displays of hundreds of images on show. Images by this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient, Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky are also exhibited.
Photographer of the Year
Adam Ferguson’s series of monochrome self-portraits of migrants in Mexico shot as they waited to cross into the United States saw him win the overall title. The images were created in collaboration with the subjects with Ferguson setting-up each scene and mounting a medium format camera on a tripod with a cable release so the subjects could each select the moment to capture the image.
Ferguson said: “Through collaborating with migrants, this series of photographs was an attempt to make images that inspired empathy, rather than sympathy. By surrendering the control of capture and giving each migrant agency in the process of their representation, I hoped to subvert the narrative of marginalization and create a story that felt more human, relatable and honest. I’m grateful to the brave and resilient individuals who agreed to work with me, and receive this award on behalf of them also. Winning the Photographer of the Year award gives this story another life. It allows a new audience to connect with the important stories of the individuals who shared their story with me.”
Open Photographer of the Year
The Sony World Photography Awards Open competition is for individual images submitted across ten categories. The winners are selected for success in communicating a story as well as their technical excellence.
This year’s Open Photographer of the Year is Scott Wilson from the United Kingdom for his image ‘Anger Management’ which he submitted to the the Natural World & Wildlife category. The monochrome image shows a wild mustang, baked in mud, as he kicks up dust in northwestern Colorado. Wilson receives a prize of $5,000 and a collection of Sony digital imaging equipment.
Student Photographer of the Year
Ezra Bohm of the Nederlandse has been awarded Student Photographer of the Year 2022, winning €30,000 worth of Sony photography equipment for his educational institution. Bohm was chosen for his series ‘The Identity of Holland’.
Youth Photographer of the Year
18-year-old, Tri Nguyen from Vietnam has been awarded the title Youth Photographer of the Year 2022 for his image ‘Under The Moonlight’ which shows a young man standing against a derelict background as he basks in artificial moonlight.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2022 virtual exhibition is available to view here.