The World Photography Organisation (WPO) announces the countdown to the close of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world’s leading photographic awards programmes. It is also proud to name Heathrow Express as the official travel partner for the awards and the World Photo London festival in April 2013.

There is just one month remaining for professional and amateur photographers from around the world to select and enter their best images of the year. Professional photographers will compete for the coveted title of L’Iris d’Or/Sony World Photography Awards Professional Photographer of the Year 2013, plus a $25,000 (USD) cash prize. Amateur photographers will contend the Open Photographer of the Year 2013 title, plus $5,000 (USD). All category winners across the awards will receive the latest digital imaging equipment from Sony.

Both winning and shortlisted photographers across the many competition categories receive worldwide recognition and exposure as a result of the awards.

British photographers Palmer + Pawel, 2012 category winners, commented: “The awards allow you to reach a much wider audience, they open doors and enable you to take advantage of opportunities that otherwise might not be available. Winning the Professional Sport category not only allowed us to gain more exposure but it also resulted in us being funded to carry out our Sao Paulo Nights project – we shot the first part when we were invited by Sony Brazil to the city to talk about our work.”

Argentinean photographer Irina Werning described the support of the World Photography Organisation to its winners as “invaluable”. Following her win at this year’s awards, Werning spent November 2012 on a five-country tour of Latin America, made possible by Sony Latin America and WPO. Alongside an exhibition of her images, Werning gave master classes and had the opportunity to shoot new pictures for her series ‘Back to the Future’ (which won the 2012 Professional Portraiture category) in each of the five countries.

All 2013 winning and finalist photographers will receive an exhibition of their work at Somerset House, one of London’s historical landmarks, from April – May 2013. They will also be featured across the WPO website and all winners, as well as a selection of shortlisted photographers, will be published in the annual Sony World Photography Awards hardcover book.

The deadline for entries for the ten Open categories, for amateurs and enthusiasts, is 4 January 2013. The Professional competition, with 15 categories for serious photographers, will close on 9 January 2013. All entries are free via www.worldphoto.org and the shortlist will be revealed on 5 February 2013.

The 2013 Honorary Jury, who will judge the professional competition, is chaired by leading American agency director and newly appointed Magnum Foundation Director, Catherine Chermayeff. The panel comprises photography professionals from the World Photographic Academy including: travel photographer Macduff Everton; Guardian picture editor Fiona Shields; Magnum photographer Chien-Chi Chang and Director of the Moscow House of Photography, Olga Sviblova.

Heathrow Express is also today named as the official travel partner for the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards and World Photo London. The company, which provide an express train service from Heathrow to Central London in just 15 minutes, will exhibit entries from the awards on their on-board entertainment system, Express TV, on digital screens and across the airport estate to raise awareness of the competition.
Keith Greenfield, Managing Director for Heathrow Express, said: “Partnering with the Sony World Photography Awards and World Photo London is a perfect fit for Heathrow Express. As the world’s busiest international airport and the UK’s hub, it is a great opportunity for us to showcase amazing photographs from around the world and delight our passengers with an on-board photography exhibition.”

Further details about the Sony World Photography Awards and the World Photography Organisation can be found at www.worldphoto.org

©Simone Tramonte