An impressive 230,103 images (127,098 Professional entries; 95,541 Open entries and 7,464 Youth entries images) from 186 were submitted for the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards, the world’s biggest photography competition. The winners of the 10 Open categories have now been announced, along with the national winners, representing the best single image submitted, across 60 countries.
Scott Portelli has been named the winner of the Australia National Award for his image, Cuttlefish Aggregation, which was chosen as the single best photograph taken by an Australian photographer entered into the awards’ ten Open categories. Portelli, a wildlife and underwater photographer, currently based in Sydney, has won a Sony α7 full-frame mirrorless camera and FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 lens. Dasha Riley and Deb Cochranefor received second and third place respectively
Describing the subject of the winning image Portelli says: "The Australian Giant Cuttlefish aggregation is truly one of nature’s great events. Thousands of cuttlefish congregate in the shallow waters around the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, to mate and perpetuate the species. The cuttlefish, like alien beings, display an array of patterns, textures and colours to indicate their intentions. As a male courts a female or wards off other males, an entourage of suitors stay poised for an opportunity to mate with the female. A visual delight and a rare glimpse of nature in all its glory."
Open competition winners
- Architecture - Filip Wolak, Poland
- Arts & Culture - Swee Choo Oh, Malaysia
- Enhanced - Pedro Díaz Molins, Spain
- Low Light - Kei Nomiyama, Japan
- Nature & Wildlife - Michaela Šmídová, Czech Republic
- Panoramic - Markus van Hauten, Germany
- People - Alexandre Meneghini, Brazil
- Smile - Alex Ingle, Scotland
- Split Second - Chaiyot Chanyam, Thailand
- Travel - Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia
These overall winners will be flown to London to collect their prize and the Open Photographer of the Year will receive US$5,000. The winners of the awards’ Professional competition and overall Professional Photographer of the Year will also be announced on 21 April.