From Chaos to Quiet: Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Announces Open Contest Winners

The Sony World Photography Awards has announced the 2025 Open category winners and shortlists. And once again, the contest has delivered an incredible showcase of talent. With over 419,000 images submitted from more than 200 countries and territories, it was tough to select the best ones. But hey, it has to be done, and we bring you this year’s winners.

The Sony World Photography Awards Open Contest winners

Now in its 18th year, the competition highlights the power of a single image—one that can capture a fleeting moment and tell a much larger story. From the neon chaos of New York’s Times Square to the intimacy of a quiet bedroom portrait, the 2025 winners take us on a journey across landscapes, cultures, and moments in time.

Xuecheng Liu from China Mainland claimed the Architecture category with Center of the Cosmos, a dizzying wide-angle shot looking down on Times Square. Meanwhile, in the Creative category, Jonell Francisco from the Philippines won for Kem the Unstoppable, a stunning collage portrait inspired by Renaissance traditions.

The Landscape category winner, Ng Guang Ze from Singapore, transported us to Wenhai, Lijiang. His black-and-white photo of a winding stream flowing into a distant lake. In the Lifestyle category, Japan’s Hajime Hirano captured a nostalgic slice of history with an image of an Akihabara street vendor selling electronic parts.

Olivier Unia from France dominated the Motion category with Tbourida La Chute, freezing the chaotic moment a rider is thrown from their horse during a Moroccan equestrian performance. The Natural World & Wildlife winner, Estebane Rezkallah from France, stunned judges with The Whale Raft. This dramatic image shows polar bears feasting on a whale carcass in East Greenland.

In the Object category, Denmark’s Sussi Charlotte Alminde showcased Octopuses in the Sky, a display of handmade kites at the Fanø International Kite Fliers Meeting. In Portraiture, Gabon’s Yeintze Boutamba delivered Encounter, a tender moment shared between two people in a bedroom, brimming with quiet emotion.

In Street Photography, Khairizal Maris from Indonesia captured the energy of the streets. Celebrating Football Club Victories showcases fans lighting flares in a euphoric scene in Bandung, West Java. last but not least, the Travel category brings us Ask a Shaman, a photo by Matjaž Šimic from Slovenia. It shows an intimate portrait of Bolivian shamans against the colorful backdrop of La Paz.

What’s Next?

The category winners will now compete for the ultimate title: Open Photographer of the Year. The $5,000 and Sony gear grand prize will be awarded during a ceremony in London on April 16, 2025.

Selected winning and shortlisted images will also be part of the prestigious SWPA’s exhibition at Somerset House from April 17 to May 5, 2025, before traveling to other locations.

With just over a month until the big reveal, we can only wait in anticipation. Until then, enjoy this year’s winning images in the Open contest. Make sure to visit the contest’s website for the complete gallery and more information.