The 2022 Sony World Photography Awards are now open and free for all photographers to enter. The competition is divided into four categories: Professional, Open, Youth and Student. In addition to these categories are two initiatives, the Alpha Female Award and the Latin America Professional Award. Learn more about each award below and submit your photos today at worldphoto.org/swpa.

The 2022 Sony World Photography Awards are now open and free for all photographers to enter.

Professional Competition

The Professional competition has 10 diverse categories to enter and is judged on a body of work. Photographers must submit a minimum of five and a maximum of 10 images and all submissions must be accompanied by a series description. You can enter all 10 categories, just make sure that each series is different. Please note that if you enter the Professional competition you cannot enter the Open or Youth competitions. The Professional competition closes on January 14, 2022. Learn more and submit HERE.

Open Competition

The Open competition rewards outstanding single images across 10 categories. Photographers should consider the category description when entering their work. Judges are looking for good composition, creativity and clear photographs. Please note that if you enter the Open competition you cannot enter the Professional or Youth competitions. The Open competition closes on January 7, 2022. Learn more and submit HERE.

Youth Competition

The Youth competition is for 12-19 year olds and will have seven monthly competitions from June - December with each focused on a particular theme. Entries must be submitted by the last day of each month. The seven monthly winners will then compete to be named Youth Photographer of the Year. Learn more and submit HERE.

Student Competition

The Student competition is open to academic institutions worldwide and free to enter for anyone aged from 18 to 30 years old undertaking a full-time photography program taught at a higher education level. The Student competition closes November 30, 2021. Learn more and submit HERE.

Alpha Female Award

All women photographers entering any of the 10 categories in the Sony World Photography Awards Open competition will be considered for the Alpha Female Award. Categories to choose from are Architecture, Creative, Landscape, Lifestyle, Motion, Natural World & Wildlife, Object, Portraiture, Street Photography and Travel. Entry is free and submissions are judged by a panel of experts. Images will be rewarded for their power to communicate a visual narrative with excellent technical and creative skills. The award stems from the Sony Alpha Universe’s Alpha Female initiative which focuses on creating opportunities for professional photographers, videographers, and filmmakers to help foster a richer, more diverse creative community. Learn more HERE.

Latin America Professional Award

All photographers from Latin American countries* entering bodies of work (5-10 images) to any of the 10 categories in the Sony World Photography Awards’ Professional competition will be considered for the Latin America Professional Award. Please note: to be considered for the Latin America Professional Award, participants must have the nationality of one of the following Latin American countries and reside in any of these during the period of the award (June 1, 2021 - January 2022) Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. Learn more HERE.

Visit worldphoto.org/swpa for complete rules and submission information.

See the overall winners from the 2021 Sony World Photography Awards HERE.