Meet the 21 Rising Star Photographers Competing for the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards!


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Left: Silhouettes of individuals at a skatepark, with one performing a trick against the backdrop of a sunset. Right: A group in white gowns standing waist-deep in water, one individual holding a cross while another is being baptized.

The World Photography Organisation has disclosed the shortlisted young photographers competing for the Student and Youth competitions in the esteemed Sony World Photography Awards.

The shortlist for the 2025 Student Photographer of the Year competition highlights 10 exceptional photographers from prominent universities across the globe, while the Youth Photographer of the Year shortlist comprises 11 photographers, each aged 19 years or younger.

Sony World Photography Awards 2025: Student Photographer of the Year Shortlist

In the Student category, each photographer has concentrated on a collection of five to 10 images that delve into the theme of fresh starts. The World Photography Organisation states that the shortlisted projects “illustrate a vast array of beginnings, ranging from the personal histories of the photographers’ lives to examinations of societal transformations.”

“Every shortlisted photographer injects a unique style and viewpoint into their work, weaving a captivating narrative through their visuals,” the organizers of the competition note.

A construction site populated by six workers in orange safety vests and helmets, scattered across a gravel-filled area. Various construction materials and machinery can be seen, including metal beams, concrete forms, and a small excavator.
© Joel Potter, Aut University, New Zealand, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Two individuals are positioned in a field at night with several small fires and smoke surrounding them. The field has stubble or remnants of crops, and the scene is illuminated by the flames, producing a dramatic effect against the dark sky.
© Xingyu Fan, Nanjing University of the Arts, China Mainland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
A female in a polka dot dress is seated on a bed in a room with wooden walls. A sign on the wall states, "All you need is love." She gazes pensively ahead. The space has a warm, rustic atmosphere. Black and white image.
© Peter Stougård Maunsbach, Denmark, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
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An individual reclining on a bed with an arm reaching out for items on a nightstand. The bedding features vibrant colors, and an ornamental tapestry with orange and yellow patterns is displayed on the wall. A lamp with a rose-colored shade and a reflecting surface are next to the bed.
© Honorata Kornacka, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Poland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Four individuals dressed in white robes are positioned in waist-high water of a lake during twilight. One individual holds a cross, while others are placing hands on a man’s head, conducting a baptism ceremony. The backdrop displays silhouettes of trees and a clear sky.
© Thapelo Mahlangu, Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography, South Africa, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
To the left, a hazy, monochrome image of two individuals with braided hair, one embellished with a flower. To the right, a color photograph showing an entangled mass that looks like hair or yarn, with a small face emerging from it.
© Montenez Lowery, Georgia State University, Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, United States, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Monochromatic image captured from inside an automobile, depicting a blurred individual in the foreground. Outside the window, a lengthy train traverses a flat terrain, under a clear sky and distant hills.
© Albert Słowiński, Academy of Art in Szczecin, Poland, Shortlist, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
A substantial, dilapidated industrial structure featuring tiny windows is visible in the background. The foreground is dominated by overgrown plants and parched grass. A few birds are seen flying in the cloudy sky above.
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© Micaela Valdivia Medina, Instituto Profesional Arcos, Perú, Finalists, Student Contest, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
A montage of monochrome family images, featuring both portraits and outdoor scenes. The central picture shows two women posing outdoors. Handwritten annotations and a partial family tree containing names and dates are also present in the montage.
© Louna Pauly, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Louis Lumière, France, Finalists, Student Contest, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
A younger individual and an elderly person with glasses are seated at a kitchen table, eyes shut. The kitchen is disorganized, with calendars and bags hanging on the walls and various items scattered on the counter. Sunlight floods the room.
© Ilana Grollman, Emerson College, United States, Finalists, Student Contest, Sony World Photography Awards 2025

The victor of the Student Photographer of the Year award will be chosen from the 10 photographers listed above and will be revealed during the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 gala in London on April 16. The overall winning photographer will receive over $31,000 in Sony digital imaging gear for their institution. This year’s Student Competition shortlist was curated by author, journalist, and critic Charlotte Jansen.

Sony World Photography Awards 2025: Youth Competition Finalists

The shortlist for the Youth competition consists of 11 photographers under the age of 19. Participants were asked to join through an open call, and the selections reflect a diverse array of photographic topics and techniques.

A monochrome photo depicting a rugby team celebrating in a locker room. The athletes, donning jerseys, are huddled together, with one player kneeling and triumphantly raising a boot. The atmosphere is lively and exuberant.
© Zachariah Levens, United Kingdom, Finalists, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
A skateboarder executes a trick in mid-air at a skatepark during sunset. The sky appears hazy, casting a warm hue over the environment. Silhouetted figures are positioned around the park, with distant hills observable in the background.
© Dian-Ji Wu, Taiwan, Finalists, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
A ski resort covered in snow filled with individuals skiing and snowboarding. A ski lift is visible in the background, accompanied by several modest structures nestled in the snow, with mountains rising in the distance against a clear sky.
© Oliver Marks, United States, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Bird's-eye view of a vibrant, green mountainous landscape with a meandering river traversing the valley. The rugged peaks are partly cloaked in clouds, and the scene is bathed in gentle, natural illumination.
© Matteo Botta, Switzerland, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Arranged cubes showcasing monochrome images of a human eye and lips set against a deep gray background. The upper cube features the eye, while the lower cube presents the lips.
© Shayna Cuenca, United States, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Two individuals, clad in traditional garments adorned with feathers and woven designs, sit on an embellished cloth within a verdant forest setting. Surrounding them is lush greenery, and a handcrafted basket with flowers rests nearby.
© Chidima Ugwuedeh, New Zealand, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
An individual stands solitary on an expansive, colorful desert landscape showcasing undulating hills in shades of red, brown, and white beneath a cloudy sky. The view is vast and isolated, with distant peaks visible in the background.
© Claire Gonzalez, United States, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
A tiny, clear water creature with a spotted eye and a shell-like formation is seen floating next to a dried, brown leaf against a dark backdrop.
© Tinnapat Netcharussaeng, Thailand, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
An individual exhales fire, producing a great flame in the center of a bustling street. Onlookers, some dressed in traditional clothing, gather around to observe the display. A vehicle is stationed behind, and the street is adorned with vibrant shops and signage.
© Ankit Ghosh, India, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
An individual inspects the engine of a vehicle at night while utilizing a flashlight. The vehicle is parked on a residential avenue with modern homes in the backdrop, some illuminated. The atmosphere is dim, indicating later evening or nighttime.
© Joshua Hasanoff, Australia, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
An atmospheric landscape during sunrise, with golden light cascading over the scene. Silhouetted trees and hills contrast against the lively sky, evoking a tranquil and dreamlike mood.
© Landon Chong Chung Yi, Malaysia, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025

Claudia Grimaldi Marks, Senior Manager of New Creator Strategy at Getty Images, curated the shortlist for this year. The Young Photographer of the Year will also be announced on April 16 and will receive an array of Sony digital imaging gear.


Image credits: Images supplied by the World Photography Organisation and the Sony World Photography Awards. Individual photographers are acknowledged in the image captions.


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