Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Tue, Oct 13, 2009 @ 09:00 AM
As one of the largest photographic events existing today, The Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA), reach far beyond an awards program for the still image. The SWPA is a convergence of festival events, focused photographic agendas, exhibitions, awards schemes, student programs and an industry-led gala evening ceremony which marks the pinnacle of the week-long event.
The Sony World Photography Awards Gala and central exhibitions that support the awards' nominees and honorees, occurs once a year in the prestigious Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. The evening welcomes some of the most influential names in the photography industry, from press and media to gallerists, publishers, agents, critics, aficionados and the renowned artists themselves. As an entering professional photographer, you will be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of being recognized by leading industry figures and taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the 12 prestigious category awards and, the most coveted prize, L'iris d'Or, given to The Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year, with the recipient taking, amongst other things, prize money of $25,000.
When submitting your images there are 12 categories in the professional program, spread across 3 main photographic genres. Each photographer may submit up to a total of 10 images into a single professional category. Professionals will be judged on a body of images representing a photographic series or story. Professional photographers may enter bodies of work in more than one category.
The judging process consists of your images going through critical rounds of selections by the official Judging Committee, comprising selected World Photographic Academy members.
A shortlist of 7 photographers in each of the 12 categories will be selected and announced in February 2010. Of the 7 short-listed photographers in each category, three finalists will then be selected and named as either the first, second or third place winners of each category given. The announcement of the 36 total winners will be made in March 2010.
For the final stage of judging, one single photographer will be chosen by the Honorary Judging Committee from the 12 First Place category winners. This photographer will be announced and awarded in Cannes as the recipient of the 2010 L'iris d'or.
All 36 Category finalists, will be showcased as part of the official 2010 Finalists exhibitions in Cannes, published in the winner's book and announced to the worldwide press as Sony World Photography Awards Category Finalists. These finalists will also be part of an annual SWPA Global Tour, have the opportunity to be represented and promoted by the World Photography Gallery, showcased on the SWPA website for all of 2010 and much more.
The first place winner of each category will be flown out to Cannes, receive 2 nights accommodation in a luxury hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010. The winner will also receive week-long passes to attend the World Photography Festival screenings, workshops, exhibitions, talks and other events taking place throughout the city of Cannes from the 13th - 18th of April 2010.
For more information on the Sony World Photography Awards please visit http://www.worldphotographyawards.org/
