The Sony World Photography Awards 2025 revealed the names of the winning photographers on April 16th in one of the world's most prestigious photography competitions. This edition, rich in visual diversity and engaging storytelling, showcases international talent who have explored profound themes such as the environmental crisis, social empowerment, identity, and collective memory. Through their lenses, the winning artists offer a sensitive and powerful interpretation of our contemporary world.
Photographer of the Year 2025 , Zed Nelson, was honored for his series The Anthropocene Illusion . This six-year project examines humanity's impact on nature. Through powerful compositions, Nelson questions our relationship with the environment and showcases the illusion of human control over the natural world. This work is fully aligned with the challenges of environmental and ecological photography .
In the Portrait category, Italian Chantal Pinzi made a strong impression with her series Shred the Patriarchy , which documents young Indian women using skateboarding to break free from patriarchal norms. These powerful photographs illustrate how the sport becomes an act of resistance and a tool for female empowerment. By blending social photography with urban aesthetics, Pinzi offers a committed look at contemporary Indian youth.
French photographer Olivier Unia , winner of the Open Photographer of the Year award, has distinguished himself with his ability to capture movement and emotion. His dynamic shots convey the narrative power of the body in action, perfectly embodying the expressive power of motion photography . His sensitive and rhythmic approach reinforces the importance of visual language in contemporary storytelling.
Other award-winning photographers included Gui Christ , author of the M'kumba series, which explores the resilience of Afro-Brazilian communities in the face of religious intolerance. Toby Binder explored the historical divisions in Northern Ireland through Divided Youth of Belfast , while Ulana Switucha won the Architecture & Design category for her look at the interactions between architectural structures and their environment.
The winning works are presented in an exhibition at Somerset House in London , from April 17 to May 5, 2025. This must-see event for lovers of contemporary photography offers the public a visual immersion in stories from around the world. The Sony World Photography Awards 2025 once again confirm their role as a springboard for emerging and established photographers, while offering a visual mirror of our times.
Nicolas Sarazin
| ArtMajeur Magazine