The winners of the Sony World Photography Award for 2021 have just been announced; with a couple of exciting gongs going to snappers specialising in the architecture field. Architectural photography, from modernist buildings to powerful, colourful spaces, has appeared in two key sections of the prestigious honour – the Professional and the Open Competition, both dedicated to outstanding creative output in the global field.
The former, a work chosen across professionals in their field, was awarded to Tomáš Vocelka from the Czech Republic. Vocelka’s submission, titled ‘Eternal Hunting Grounds’, is a series exploring a former military complex turned pet cemetery in his home country. The prize looks at a body of work of five to ten images and the winner’s imagery is beautiful and haunting. Other themes in this category include Documentary, Landscape, Portraiture, Creative, Environment, Portfolio, Sport, Still Life and Wildlife & Nature.
The Open Competition, on the other hand, draws on the power of one, single image. The winner, here, Germany’s Klaus Lenzen, submitted ‘The Blue Window’, a piece depicting ‘a ramp of stairs at the Hyatt hotel in Düsseldorf ascending towards a window from which a view of clear blue skies is reflected.’ Graphic and powerful, the winning image leaves a lasting impression.
The Award scheme also named today its overall winner, UK based documentarian Craig Easton, who will receive $25,000 (USD) cash prize and a range of Sony’s digital imaging kit. Meanwhile, supporting photography creatives of all ages, the Sony World Photography Award also features prizes for youth and student categories.
A virtual exhibition of winners and finalists’ work has just been launched through the organisation’s website, where all artwork is available to peruse and admire. §
