Sony World Photography Awards 2009

The professional finalists and amateur winners of the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards were announced on Tuesday 17 March.

The 44 photographers, from 22 separate countries, beat off stiff competition from the 186 shortlisted photographers, revealed last month.

Each of the photographers on the list will be exhibited and honoured at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony at the prestigious Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on Thursday 16 April. Of the 12 professional category winners, one photographer will be the recipient of the L’Iris D’Or, the Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. On the night they will be awarded $25,000 along with Sony camera equipment. The winning amateur photographer, selected from the eight category finalists, will receive a $5,000 cash prize and Sony camera equipment.

The Sony World Photography Awards aim to promote the work of photographers worldwide. As one of the main prizes, the professional category finalists and amateur category winners will be showcased in the Winners’ Exhibition inside the Rotonde Lerins which takes place alongside the Festival, a week-long celebration of photography. This winner’s exhibition will then be adapted for the 2009/2010 Global Tour, which exhibits throughout leading galleries and cities around the world.

For more information please visit the World Photography Awards website.