Today, the World Photography Organization made a grand announcement, revealing the overall winners of the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 at a special gala ceremony hosted in London. Now marking its 17th year, the ceremony stands as a significant annual occasion, acknowledging the finest photography worldwide while celebrating the compelling images and narratives that have captivated global audiences throughout the preceding year. Displayed at Somerset House, London from April 19th, the winning, finalist, and shortlisted images are showcased at the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 exhibition.
Earning the esteemed title of Photographer of the Year is Juliette Pavy, acclaimed for her series titled “Spiralkampagnen: Forced Contraception and Unintended Sterilisation of Greenlandic Women.” Pavy’s achievement brings along a $25,000 (USD) cash prize, an array of Sony digital imaging equipment, and the esteemed opportunity to unveil a new body of work at the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 exhibition.
Pavy emerged as the standout choice from among the 10 Professional competition category winners, who were unveiled alongside the second and third-place finalists in each category during today’s announcement. From urgent narratives chronicling the evolution of our climate and humanity’s interaction with the natural realm to intimate portrayals of individuals and communities, this year’s Professional competition winners and finalists present an exceptional spectrum of photographic endeavors from across the globe.
The ceremony also paid tribute to this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award, the globally renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado, celebrated for his distinctive monochromatic compositions that have captivated audiences over his illustrious five-decade career. Salgado’s enduring impact on the visual lexicon of photography was duly acknowledged.
Furthermore, the gala ceremony recognized the overall winners of the Awards’ Open, Student, and Youth competitions, alongside this year’s recipient of the Sustainability Prize. These accolades shine a spotlight on photographers at varying stages of their careers, with the Open competition underscoring the potency of a single image, while the Student and Youth Competitions highlight the creative endeavors of the emerging generation. Introduced last year, the Sustainability Prize honors photographers championing positive environmental change.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2024 exhibition will grace Somerset House, London, from April 19th to May 6th, 2024. Serving as one of the most anticipated events in London’s spring cultural calendar, this extensive exhibition features over 200 prints, accompanied by hundreds of additional images in digital displays from the winning and shortlisted photographers. Additionally, the exhibition includes a retrospective of works by this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award, Sebastião Salgado.
Photographer of the Year
In the exploration of “Spiralkampagnen: Forced Contraception and Unintended Sterilisation of Greenlandic Women,” Juliette Pavy, a photographer from France, delves into the haunting legacy left by the involuntary birth control campaign orchestrated by Danish authorities in Greenland during the 1960s and 1970s.
Through her documentary project, Pavy meticulously unravels the grim reality of the spiralkampagnen, wherein numerous Inuit women, some as young as 12, underwent the insertion of intrauterine devices without their consent. From its inception to the present day, Pavy’s work also delves into the ongoing investigations by the Danish government, providing a comprehensive view of the campaign’s impact.
At the heart of Pavy’s narrative lies a deep empathy for the victims, whose voices and experiences are given prominence. The project’s structure reflects these profound reflections on the collective trauma suffered by the affected community. Employing a variety of photographic techniques, Pavy captures the essence of the story. From poignant cityscapes of Nuuk to clinical environments, from X-ray imagery to archival photographs of the young women involved, the series presents a multifaceted perspective. Recent portraits of victims, doctors, and contemporary Danish parliamentarians involved in investigating the spiralkampagnen further enrich the narrative, highlighting the ongoing repercussions of this dark chapter in history.
Professional Category Winners
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
WINNER: Siobhán Doran (Ireland) for her series Sala Mayor (Living Room)
Finalists: 2nd place Karol Pałka (Poland); 3rd place Yaser Mohamad Khani (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Finalists: 2nd place Mackenzie Calle (United States); 3rd place Tine Poppe (Norway)
DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS
WINNER: Juliette Pavy (France) for her series Spiralkampagnen: Forced Contraception and Unintended Sterilisation of Greenlandic Women
Finalists: 2nd place Brent Stirton (South Africa); 3rd place Davide Monteleone (Italy)
ENVIRONMENT
WINNER: Mahé Elipe (France) for her series Echoes of the Hive
Finalists: 2nd place Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni (Italy); 3rd place Maurizio Di Pietro (Italy)
LANDSCAPE
WINNER: Eddo Hartmann (Netherlands) for his series The Sacrifice Zone
Finalists: 2nd place Jim Fenwick (United Kingdom); 3rd place Fan Li (China Mainland)
PORTFOLIO
WINNER: Jorge Mónaco (Argentina) for his series Portraits and Landscapes Finalists: 2nd place Aly Hazzaa (Egypt); 3rd place Angelika Kollin (Estonia)
PORTRAITURE
WINNER: Valery Poshtarov (Bulgaria) for his series Father and Son
Finalists: 2nd place Adali Schell (United States); 3rd place Drew Gardner (United Kingdom)
SPORT
WINNER: Thomas Meurot (France) for his series Kald Sòl (Cold Sun)
Finalists: 2nd place Angelika Jakob (Germany); 3rd place Tommaso Pardini (Italy)
STILL LIFE
WINNER: Federico Scarchilli (Italy) for his series Flora
Finalists: 2nd place Peter Franck (Germany); 3rd place Beth Galton (United States)
WILDLIFE & NATURE
WINNER: Eva Berler (Greece) for her series Suspended Worlds
Finalists: 2nd place Haider Khan (India); 3rd place Jasper Doest (Netherlands)
Sustainability Prize
Kathleen Orlinsky, representing the United States, emerged as the winner of this year’s Sustainability Prize, earning a $5,000 cash prize (USD) for her series “America’s First Wilderness.”
Orlinsky’s series delves into the landscapes, wildlife, and inhabitants of the Gila Wilderness in southeastern New Mexico. It explores the extensive conservation efforts aimed at preserving the pristine natural environment and safeguarding the area’s biodiversity. Her project illuminates the harmonious coexistence between the wilderness’s residents and the surrounding nature while advocating for the conservation of this precious space.
The Sustainability Prize is an integral part of Creators for the Planet, a global engagement program established by Creo in collaboration with the United Nations Foundation and Sony Pictures. It seeks to recognize stories, individuals, and organizations whose efforts align with the environmental Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.
Open Photographer of the Year
The Open competition, known for its celebration of the potency and dynamism found within a single image, selects winning photographs based on their ability to convey a remarkable visual narrative alongside technical excellence. Among the 10 Open category winners, Liam Man from the United Kingdom emerges as the Open Photographer of the Year 2024, earning a $5,000 (USD) cash prize, Sony digital imaging equipment, and international exposure.
Man’s winning entry, titled “Moonrise Sprites over Storr,” captures the iconic rock formation of the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Illuminated by drone lights and set against the backdrop of a rising orange moon, the photograph portrays the landscape amidst a powerful blizzard late at night. It showcases the vast mountainous terrain and the striking winter sky in a mesmerizing composition.
Student Photographer of the Year
For this year’s Student competition, aspiring photographers were called upon to submit a series comprising five to ten images, each addressing the theme of Home. The objective was to showcase their unique perspectives on concepts such as place, community, identity, and belonging.
Kayin Luys, representing Belgium and studying at LUCA School of Arts Sint Lukas Brussels, has been bestowed with the esteemed title of Student Photographer of the Year. As a reward, his university receives Sony digital imaging equipment valued at €30,000. Luys’s winning series, titled “Don’t Trust Pretty Girls,” offers an intimate portrayal of his in-laws. Through his lens, he captures the essence of his partner’s family, illustrating his integration into their daily traditions and rituals.
Youth Photographer of the Year
In this year’s Youth competition, participants were called upon to interpret the theme “Through Your Eyes” and offer their distinct perspectives on the world. From a pool of ten photographers aged 19 and under, Daniel Murray from the United Kingdom, aged 15, emerges as the Youth Photographer of the Year. As part of his prize, Murray receives Sony digital imaging equipment and exposure on a global scale.
Murray’s winning photograph portrays a lone surfer on a deserted beach in Cornwall, encapsulating the serene ambiance of the waning days of summer and the vast expanse of English seaside landscapes. With its gentle hues, the image beautifully captures the soft glow of late summer light.
Outstanding Contribution to Photography
This year, the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Photography award honors the renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado. Recognized as one of the foremost photographers of our time, Salgado has garnered global recognition for his extraordinary black-and-white imagery crafted throughout a career spanning over half a century.
At the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 exhibition held at Somerset House, visitors will have the opportunity to witness over 40 captivating images curated by Salgado himself. This carefully selected collection offers a glimpse into the pivotal themes and milestones that have defined his illustrious career over the past five decades. From the iconic early projects such as Gold (1986) and Workers (1993) to more recent endeavors like Genesis (2011) and Amazônia (2019), Salgado’s exhibition promises to be a testament to his unparalleled artistic vision and enduring legacy.
Edgar Martins – Solo Presentation
Alongside the remarkable works of this year’s overall and category winners, the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition proudly features a solo exhibition by the esteemed photographer Edgar Martins from Portugal, who was crowned Photographer of the Year in 2023.
Martins presents a compelling selection of images from his series “Anton’s Hand is Made of Guilt. No Muscle or Bone. He Has a Gung-ho Finger and a Grief-stricken Thumb.” Expanding upon his award-winning project from 2023, “Our War,” this exhibition unveils Martins’ poignant long-term endeavor. It serves as a tribute to his close friend, the late photojournalist Anton Hammerl, who tragically lost his life during the Libyan Civil War in 2011.
