Sony World Photography Awards 2012 Shortlist Announced

Date
2nd Feb 2012
111 comments

Peter Franck, Germany, Professional Shortlist, Fashion, Sony World Photography Awards 2012

Sony World Photography Awards 2012

On Thursday 2 February, the World Photography Organisation announced the shortlist for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards.  Billed as the global photographic event of the year, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the very best in photography from around the world, from the next generation of emerging photographers through to the established masters of the art.

The 2012 competition has garnered increased worldwide interest with over 112,000 entries from 171 countries, with the shortlisted images depicting the stories of extraordinary lives from around the world. The Professional competition reflects a turbulent year of global events with the war in Libya; the Greek and European economic crisis; the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and the fall of Gaddafi, in the Photojournalism & Documentary categories.  The shortlist for the Fine Art and Commercial categories gets to the very heart of daily life -  a small sheep-farming community in Iceland; the rice harvest in South China; a religious pilgrimage in Poland and gold diggers in Chile.

This year the honorary jury found the quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories, discovering many photographers new to the Sony World Photography Awards roster.  Manuel Geerinck (Belgium);  Lee Chee Wai (Malaysia); Alejandro Cartagena (Mexico), Irina Werning (Argentina); Gwenn Dubourthoumieu (Republic of the Congo) and Simon Norfolk (UK), are but a few of the new names to place as finalists and shortlisted photographers. 

Returning photographers from previous years, include 2010 Professional Landscape winner, Peter Franck (Germany); who this year is a finalist in three categories; 2011 Professional Contemporary Issues and Current Affairs winner, Javier Arcenillas (Spain); and Chan Kwok Hung (Hong Kong) whose stunningly dramatic image ‘Buffalo Race’ won the  Overall Open Competition in 2011.

W M Hunt, Chair of the Honorary Judging Committee, commented: ‘As a judge, you bring an open mind and a passion for photography - its presence and its present, its past and its legacy.  You are hopeful and hungry to see great work that is fresh and full, expecting the exceptional.  The rewards are rich and delightful.  It is a pleasure to present this year's selections.’

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation added: ‘Looking at the vast collection of shortlisted work across the categories, is truly gratifying this year.  Within the Professional awards, the bodies of work are beautifully presented and distinctive, whilst in the Open categories, the single snapshots are diverse and demonstrate excellent skill within the amateur market.  The new Youth competition also delighted us, as we were thrilled to find some exceptional budding talent.’

In being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, photographers can now look forward to the invaluable support of the World Photography Organisation, which includes having their work exhibited at a major exhibition at London’s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012. 

The shortlist for the Professional Competition was selected by the Honorary Judging committee which was chaired by esteemed photographic consultant W.M. Hunt.  This year the Open entries were judged by a pre-selection committee of inspectors from Shutterstock, WPO and representatives from Sony.  The Youth Competition was judged by a WPO and Sony selection committee.

The annual Sony World Photography Awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on 26 April at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane.  The awards celebration will once again take place alongside World Photo, London, a month-long event which brings an eclectic mix of photographic events for all to enjoy.  The opening weekend of World Photo London will be held at Somerset House from 27 - 30 April with selected events including portfolio reviews, workshops, symposiums and the Sony World Photography Awards winners’ exhibitions, which continue through to 20 May 2012.  Honorary Judges for the 2012 Awards and other international industry experts will be leading many of the festival events.

>> View the gallery of shortlisted images here

Professional shortlisted photographers, quick links: Professional, Photojournalism & Documentary, Commercial, Fine Art, Open Competition, Youth Award.

Honorary judging committee:  

 

Presiding Chair: W. M. Hunt (USA) Photographic Consultant.

Chairs: Michael Benson (UK) Director, Prix Pictet; James Reid (UK) Photography Director of Wallpaper*; Claudia Hinterseer (Netherlands) Managing Director and co-owner of NOOR.

Additional Jury: Jodi Bieber (South Africa) Photographer; Jon Jones (UK) Director of Photography Sunday Times Magazine; Rebecca Lewis (US) Vice-President and Senior Agent for Art+Commerce; Prabuddha Dasgupta (India) Photographer; Shizuka Yokomizo (Japan) Photographer.

In each category the judges could select up to three finalist photographers and up to seven additional shortlist photographers.  From the finalists, the winners plus 2nd and 3rd place will be chosen and announced at the awards ceremony on 26 April. 

Photographers are listed alphabetically.

 

PHOTOJOURNALISM & DOCUMENTARY

Current Affairs

 

Finalists:

●      Fernando Alfonso Brito Lizárraga, Mexico

●      Rémi Ochlik (IP3 Press), France

●      Donald Weber (VII PHOTO), Canada

 

Shortlisted:

●      Javier Arcenillas, Spain  

●      Fabio Bucciarelli, Italy

●      Pietro Masturzo, Italy

●      Giorgos Moutafis, Greece

●      Goran Tomasevic, United Kingdom

 

Contemporary Issues

 

Finalists:

●      Kasia Bielska, Poland

●      Alessandro Grassani, Italy

●      Gustavo Jononovich, Argentina

 

Shortlisted:

●      Francesco Giusti, Italy

●      Sebastian Liste, Spain

●      Ivor Prickett, Ireland

●      Jose Luis Rodriguez Maldonado,  Columbia

●      Natasha Shulte, Ukraine

●      Anastasia Taylor-Lind, United Kingdom

●      Donald Weber (VII PHOTO), Canada 

 

People

 

Finalists:

●      Alejandro Cartagena, Mexico

●      Maja Daniels, Sweden

●      Simon Norfolk, United Kingdom

 

Shortlisted:

●      Philippe Leroux, France

●      Kerry Mansfield, United States

●      Francesca Oggiano, Italy

●      Huage Shang, China

●      Salvi Danés Vernedas, Spain

 

Sport

 

Finalists:

●      Pawel Kopczynski (Thomson Reuters), Germany

●      Andrew McConnell, Ireland

●      Palmer + Pawel, United Kingdom

 

Shortlisted:

●      Delfosse Colin, Belgium

●      Alvaro Deprit, Italy

●      Mikhail Domozhilov, Russian Federation

●      Adam Pretty, Australia

●       Scott Robin Barbour, New Zealand

●      Robin Utrecht, Netherlands

 

 

Nature & Wildlife

 

Finalists:

  • David Chancellor (Institute), United Kingdom   
  • Jacek Kusz, Poland
  • Palani Mohan, India

 

Shortlisted:

  • Salil Bera, India
  • Terence du Fresne,  Switzerland
  • Barbara Leven , United States
  • Suren Manvelyan, Armenia
  • Tapash Paul, Bangladesh

 

Arts and Culture

Finalists:

●      Rob Hornstra, Netherlands

●      Anastasia Taylor-Lind,  United Kingdom

●      Mattia Vacca, Italy

 

Shortlisted:

●      Javier Arcenillas, Spain

●      Jacek Swierczynski, Poland

●      Yannick Cormier, France

●      Alvaro Deprit, Italy

●      Susana Girón, Spain

●      Davide Monteleone, Italy    

●      Andrea Santolaya, Spain  

 

COMMERCIAL

 

Campaign

Finalists:

●      Javier Arcenillas, Spain

●      Peter Franck, Germany

●      Laura Pannack, United Kingdom

 

Shortlisted:

●      Michael Blann, United Kingdom

●      Felipe Cantillana, Chile

●      Jan von Holleben, Germany

●      Miguel Navarro, United Kingdom

●      Michelle Siu, Canada

●      Roberto Soares-Gomes, Brazil

●      Daniele Testa, Italy

 

Travel

Finalists:

●      Jan Brykczynski, Poland

●      Luis Henry Agudelo Cano, Colombia

●      Peter Franck, Germany

 

Shortlisted:

●      Giancarlo Ceraudo, Italy

●      Andrea Hamilton, United Kingdom

●      Cristina De Middel, Spain

●      Yurian Quintanas Nobel, Spain

●      Gianluca Pulcini, Italy

●      Lisa Wiltse, United States

 

Fashion

Finalists:

●      Peter Franck, Germany

●      Elizaveta Porodina, Germany

●      Jayden Tang, United Kingdom

 

Shortlisted:

●      Michelle Beatty, United Kingdom

●      Susi Belianska, Italy

●      Romano Decker Dejan Kutic, Croatia

●      Filippo Del Vita, Italy

●      Alice Pavesi, Italy

●      Dasha Ketsko, Ukraine

●      Frauke Thielking, Germany

 

FINE ART

Architecture

Finalists:

●      Igor Chirikov, Russian Federation

●      David Airob, Spain

●      Simon Norfolk, United Kingdom

 

Shortlisted:

●      Bibi Broderick, Canada

●      Riccardo Budini, Italy

●      Tamas Bujnovszky, Hungary

●      Alejandro Cartagena, Mexico

●      Paula Gortazar,  United Kingdom

●      David de Jong, Netherlands

●      Michael Joseph, United States

 

Portraiture

Finalists:

●      Lei Liu, China

●      Paolo Marchetti, Italy

●      Irina Werning, Argentina

 

Shortlisted:

●      Gwenn Dubourthoumieu, The Democratic Republic of Congo

●      Lavinia Parlamenti, Italy

●      Johann Rousselot, France

●      Javier Arcenillas, Spain

●      George Mayer, Russian Federation

 

Landscape

Finalists            :

●      Rona Chang, United States

●      Lee Chee Wai, Malaysia

●      Mitch Dobrowner, United States

 

Shortlisted:

●      Regis Boileau, France

●      Ximena Etchart, Argentina

●      Jeroen Hofman, Netherlands

●      Zhang Kechun, China

●      Matthias H. Risse, Germany

●      Chaoliang Shen, Taiwan, Province of China

●      Stephen Wilkes, United States

 

Still Life

Finalists:

●      Renan Cepeda, Brazil

●      Rena Effendi (INSTITUTE), Azerbaijan

●      Helen Thompson, United Kingdom

 

Shortlisted:

●      Michal Cole, United Kingdom

●      Peter Franck, Germany

●      Martina Geccelli, United Kingdom

●      Miri Mor, Israel

●      Song Nian Ang, Singapore

●      Gicheol Shin, Republic of Korea

 

Conceptual

Finalists:

●      Manuel Geerinck,  Belgium

●      Luis Mallo, USA

●      Cristina De Middel, Spain

 

Shortlisted:

●      Carlo D'Orta, Italy

●      Photographer Hal, Japan

●      Giuseppe Parisi, Italy

●      Carlos Henrique Reinesch, Brazil

●      Sanne Maloe Slecht, Netherlands

●      Frauke Thielking, Germany

●      Patricia van de Camp, Netherlands

 

Open shortlisted photographers

 

In each category judges were able to select up to ten images.

Architecture

 

●      Babul Bhatt, India

●      Patrice Carré, France

●      Filippo Di Rosa, Italy

●      Fabrizio Intonti, Italy

●      Francisco Mendes, Portugal

●      Rui Nunes, United Kingdom

●      Fulvio Pellegrini, Italy

●      José Ramón Montes, Spain

●      Thai Son Huynh, Vietnam

 

Arts & Culture

 

●      Dovile Dagiene, Lithuania

●      Levi Fanan, Brazil

●      Kushal Gangopadhyay, India

●      Antonio Iubatti, Italy

●      Sanket K, India

●      Klaartje Lambrechts, Belgium

●      Oliver Mezger, Germany

●      Tan Nono Rahardian, Indonesia

●      Samanta Sollima, Italy

●      Paul Störm, Australia

 

Enhanced

 

●      Alexandr Afonin, Russian Federation

●      Sandra Cifo, United States

●      Paul Irving, United Kingdom

●      Milan Makarský, Czech Republic

●      Frank Martin Eisele, Germany

●      Rodolfo Mejías, Venezuela

●      Jochen Resch, Germany

●      Oren Shved, Israel

●      Victor Vargas Villafuerte, Canada

●      Antonios Vlachou, Slovakia

 

Low Light

 

●      Elmar Akhmetov, Kazakhstan

●      Edoardo Brotto, Italy

●      Ignasi cunill, Spain

●      Teng Hin Khoo, Malaysia

●      Sergey Kochmak, Russian Federation

●      Christoph Krüger, Germany

●      Belentsova Natalia, Russian Federation

●      Pansiri Pikunkaew, Thailand

●      Derrick Woo, Hong Kong

●      Heng Zee Kek, Singapore

 

Nature & Wildlife

 

●      Nadav Bagim, Israel

●      Anita Erdmann, Canada

●      Handri Fitrido, Indonesia

●      Felicitas Frei, Switzerland

●      Giovanni Frescura, Italy

●      Peter Krejzl, Czech Republic

●      Chan Kwok Hung, Hong Kong

●      William Lee, United States

●      Kuntal Paul, India

●      Petar Sabol, Croatia

 

Panoramic

 

●      Pramiga Aditya, Indonesia

●      Ionut Hrenciuc, Romania

●      Istvan Nagy, Netherlands

●      Noel Plaszkó, Hungary

●      Matthew Post, Australia

●      James Rider, United Kingdom

●      Terry Soo, Australia

●      Ian Taylor, United Kingdom

●      Steve Williams, United Kingdom

●      Denise Worden, United States

 

People

 

●      Victoria Bolshemennik, Israel

●      Tommy Braxton, United Kingdom

●      Thomas Dymond, United Kingdom

●      Mehmet Fatih Yaldiz, Turkey

●      Ana Gregorič, Slovenia

●      Paul MacKinnon, United Kingdom

●      Christine Pearl, United States

●      Fulvio Pellegrini, Italy

●      Zulkifli Thalib, Indonesia

●      Игорь Лобанов, Russian Federation

 

Smile

 

●      Ricky Alexander, Indonesia

●      Nguyen Duc Tri, Vietnam

●      Gerold Guggenbuehl, Switzerland

●      Arnold Jumpay, Philippines

●      Anom Manik Agung, Indonesia

●      Kivera Mara, Réunion

●      Diana Mrazikova, Slovakia

●      Meghann Prouse, United States

●      Piotr Stasiuk, Poland

 

Split Second

 

●      Cemhan Biricik, United States

●      Tobias Bräuning, Germany

●      Samuel Chan, China

●      Andrzej Chrobot, Poland

●      Alessandro Falco, Italy

●      Don Horne, Ireland

●      Johnny Joo, United States

●      Gustavo Magnavacca, Argentina

●      Greg Parker, United Kingdom

●      Peter Prazenka, Slovakia

 

Travel

 

●      Krzysztof Browko, Poland

●      Krzysztof Browko, Poland

●      Marco Lachmann-Anke, Germany

●      John Lai Teck Kee, Malaysia

●      Carlos Macedonio, Brazil

●      N S Ng, Singapore

●      Keith Pace, Malta

●      Suprijanto Suprijanto, Indonesia

●      George Turnbull, United Kingdom

●      Malte Wittmann, Germany

 

Youth shortlisted photographers 

Culture

  • Hanne Grannestad, Norway
  • Lam Ka Ho, Hong Kong
  • Sahil Lodha, India
  • Merijn Mulder, Netherlands
  • Carolina Paltrinieri, Italy
  • Kolyaskin Sergey, Russian Federation
  • Benedek Varga, Hungary 

Environment

  • Alla Aliokhina, Ukraine
  • Kolyaskin Sergey, Russian Federation
  • Thamyres Matarozzi, Brazil
  • Adrian Pelegrin Bonet, Spain
  • Bernard Pieterse, South Africa
  • Imanuel Thallinger, Austria
  • Kazi Sudipto, Bangladesh
  • Kseniya Sovenko, United States

Portraits 

  • Tertious Alio, Russian Federation
  • Hadi Asgari, Iran
  • Lidia K, United Kingdom
  • Darya Kasyanova, Russian Federation
  • Samujjwal Sahu, India
  • Karina Sembe, Ukraine
  • Kolyaskin Sergey, Russian Federation
  • Felicia Simion, Romania
  • Marina Tkhorzhevskaya, Russian Federation
  • Berta Vicente, Spain

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Comments

  • Bife Godoy 02/02/2012 04:22

    I received this email, but I saw my name in the site. Could you explain?


    Dear Bife Godoy

    I am delighted to announce that your image has been shortlisted in the top 10 images in the Arts & Culture Category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2012.
    Your work has been selected from 52,323 images entered from 171 countries. This is an incredible achievement.
    Your name will be announced to press and on our website, on 2nd February but before then it is absolutely critical that you keep this information confidential. The winners of each category will be announced on 20th March.
    The reason I write to you now, is that we need your image in high resolution and further information about you and your image, as your image will be shown in the SWPA winner's book and digitally at Somerset House, as part of World Photo, London from 27th April - 20th May, 2012.
    The high resolution uploader will be active, as of 15th February and the deadline for uploading your images is Sunday 26th February.
    All the details we require, will be found within the high resolution uploader. Please upload the required images and information here: http://www.worldphoto.org/uploader/
    As a shortlisted photographer you are invited to attend World Photo, London from the 27th April – 20th May, taking place at Somerset House. To help facilitate your visit, we offer you the following:

    Free access pass to the Sony World Photography Awards exhibitions at Somerset House, London

    Discounted hotel accommodation through our partner hotel (whilst rooms are available)

    10% off all World Photo London ticketed events, including Portfolio Reviews, Workshops and more. Please use this code 10COM2012 to redeem your discount.
    If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to let me know and I look forward to meeting you then.

    Many congratulations once again,

    Kind regards,

    The WPO Team

    World Photography Organisation
    9 Manchester Square
    London
    W1U 3PL
    United Kingdom

  • faridy 02/02/2012 05:00

    I have received an email from the WPO, the contents that my image has been shortlisted in the top 10 images in the Split Second Category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2012.
    My name will be announced to press and on our website, on 2nd February . but I do not find my name on the WPO website. Could you explain?
    Thank you.

  • Kieran O'Connor 02/02/2012 05:11

    Same as the comments above.
    Received the email, proceeded to upload a higher res file as instructed. Then came here to see my name is not on the list.
    What gives?

  • Khalid 02/02/2012 05:31

    Same for me...I got the same mail in Smile Category short listed. But no name in the list..

    I have also mailed...Would anyone please explain.

    Anyway, congrats to all winners :)

  • PRAVEENCHETTRI 02/02/2012 05:42

    SAME HERE DNT KNOW WHAT SONY PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS ARE TRYING TO DO :(

  • vicpug 02/02/2012 06:15

    Same here in Australia. Is this a scam?

  • Amrish Patel 02/02/2012 06:16

    I also got the same mail stating that that your image has been shortlisted in the top 10 images in the Arts & Culture Category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2012.

    But my name is not on the list. Could you please explain? This is strange.

  • Sherwin Flores 02/02/2012 06:32

    same here.....I also got the same mail.......mine in enhanced :(

  • Neville Jones 02/02/2012 06:35

    Same here. Classic.

  • Rahul Talukder 02/02/2012 06:39

    I have also got the same mail saying that "your image has been shortlisted in the top 10 images in the Split Second Category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2012", but i can't find my name in the short list.

  • samujjwalsahu 02/02/2012 06:47

    Well I have got no mails. But I can see my name over here. Strange. But true.

  • vicpug 02/02/2012 06:48

    They probably emailed the wrong email to the full 'entries received list.'

  • Petr Bambousek 02/02/2012 07:05

    I am not happy to be on the "wrong" shortlist too, like many other here. I hope WPO will make us sure what is the right shortlist.

  • Kapil Pandey 02/02/2012 07:12

    Hi.. I received the same email informing me for the selection.. in the open ' Architecture' category.. but i can't find my name in the list above.. Really anxious.. please reply..

  • Graeme Coutts 02/02/2012 07:18

    I received the same mail and do not see my name......what gives?

  • Graeme Coutts 02/02/2012 07:19

    I received the same mail and do not see my name......what gives?

  • Kieran O'Connor 02/02/2012 07:22

    Seriously better be a good explanation for this. So many people have their hopes up from that email.

  • Lior Patel 02/02/2012 07:33

    Got the email as everyone else in here...for low light category (open) but my name is not up there...so...what now ?

  • Suryodoy Banerjee 02/02/2012 07:41

    got da same mail here...Please justify ...

  • Tiina Petersson 02/02/2012 08:12

    Got the same e-mail.

  • Maria Razumovskaya 02/02/2012 08:27

    Same story. Excitement after receiving the e-mail, then disappointment at not seeing my name here. Hope WPO will explain it soon.

  • Possi 02/02/2012 08:36

    This is unbelievable and very unprofessional. It seems like they are trying to get high res photos from naive amateurs and commercialize them. i received the same email with congratulations and a link for the high res upload. I sent several photos but the link was only for one so it seemed natural to me. Just before I wanted to upload the photo I checked the announced nominees and couldn't find my name. I have a bitter taste, I don't know if it is Sony or the organization.

  • Amrish Patel 02/02/2012 08:38

    True...its truly disappointing...i called couple of my friends when i got a mail...but then i felt so bad that my name is not there on the website :(

  • Ata Mohammad Adnan 02/02/2012 08:41

    I got the same mail, in Smile category,but I dont see the name:(

  • Christian 02/02/2012 08:44

    Got the same e-mail.

  • wangbing 02/02/2012 08:45

    I also received a similar letter, but not my list of winners, please explain, thank you!

  • emwood 02/02/2012 08:49

    Same email here. I wonder if they've gone the full monty and there's going to be 52,223 long faces in 171 different countries this morning? I suspect the longest face of all will be the person who hit "send" a bit too quickly. Never mind, honest mistakes do happen - and above all congratulations to those who actually did make the shortlist.

  • Lara_Sadler 02/02/2012 08:50

    also got the same email, and not on the shortlist... it's just a bloody depressing way to start a day.

  • Max Drukpa 02/02/2012 08:54

    Yes. I am the same way!
    I receved e-mail, but don't see my name here.
    What's the problem?

  • Didier Grillet 02/02/2012 08:55

    Same for me

  • Lara_Sadler 02/02/2012 08:58

    also got the same email, and not on the shortlist... it's just a bloody depressing way to start a day.

  • Sampa Guhamajumdar 02/02/2012 09:01

    Dear sir
    I got a mail(https://snt132.mail.live.com/default.aspx#!/mail/InboxLight.aspx?n=2049335348!n=566809345&fid=1&mid=7ab60da2-4d4e-11e1-9f6e-00237de4a6ea&fv=) that I was short listed. I did a foolish mistake, with out read the mail properly I click friend mail link( Forward this email to a friend:
    http://us1.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=909b96e2414058d2fa81cf4a4&id=149e9939ab&e=af55da0bc4) instead of "Update your profile" mail link. Then I got a mail that they unsubscribe me for this reason, They wrote.....if it is mistake I can subscribe me again. I did what ever they told. Again I got another mail that My subscription is confirmed.Then I clicked this shortlist announcement page and I did not find my name in Open competition travel category list. My name is Sampa Guhamajumdar .My question is I got this confirmation (2012 commended photographers
    Your subscription to our list has been confirmed.
    For your records, here is a copy of the information you submitted to us...
    Email Address: sampaguhamajumdar@hotmail.com
    First Name: Sampa
    Last Name: Guhamajumdar
    Category: Travel
    If at any time you wish to stop receiving our emails, you can:
    unsubscribe here
    You may also contact us at:)
    I am not enlisted again? Please explain or clarify it. I am very much sad, because it is a mistake. I did not send it anybody, only click it.

  • Sampa Guhamajumdar 02/02/2012 09:12

    Now I read other comments also. So request to WPO , please do something . We are very much grateful if you consider our names in your shortlist.

  • Cathy Brown 02/02/2012 09:20

    just spoke to WPO after getting this email......they asked for a copy of the email as they suspect they have been hacked! so disappointing I'm gutted.

  • Maria Razumovskaya 02/02/2012 09:27

    Can it be that the published list of winners might be wrong, rather than the e-mail notification list? What a mess.

  • roffe 02/02/2012 09:38

    Same email here. I wonder if they've gone the full monty and there's going to be 52,223 long faces in 171 different countries this morning? I suspect the longest face of all will be the person who hit "send" a bit too quickly. Never mind, honest mistakes do happen - and above all congratulations to those who actually did make the shortlist. This is crazy and I hope we got an explanation fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Elena Belevtseva 02/02/2012 09:45

    Same for me(((

  • Dolnikow 02/02/2012 09:53

    I receved e-mail, but don't see my name here.
    What's the problem?

  • Maria Razumovskaya 02/02/2012 10:00

    Just received a new e-mail with apologies saying that in fact my work was commended, not shortlisted. There you go. The pill is sweetened. Still good news, I suppose.

  • vicpug 02/02/2012 10:01

    Anther email just arrived - we are in the COMMENDED list.

  • Max Drukpa 02/02/2012 10:02

    I've god new e-mail with: Please accept our sincerest apologies, yesterday you received an incorrect email stating that you have been shortlisted.
    I am delighted to announce that your image has actually been COMMENDED in the Enhanced Category.

    Commended? It's funny. All 52,223 people in 171 different countries was commended I guess.
    hahaha!

  • Evgeny Vasenev 02/02/2012 10:02

    Dear Sir/Madam

    Please accept our sincerest apologies, yesterday you received an incorrect email stating that you have been shortlisted in the...

  • Beth 02/02/2012 10:07

    Could someone please clear up for me, are we all commended? How can so many people be commended and featured in the SWPA book? Or is there still something strange going on...

  • Evgeny Vasenev 02/02/2012 10:09

    But text of email is same except "Commended" And what next? What mean that Commended list? Is it important or not?

  • Beth 02/02/2012 10:31

    Yeh that's what is also confusing...
    Oh well it's a shame, hopefully they'll get what ever errors they are having sorted and will get back to us all to let us know what's going on.

  • Kieran O'Connor 02/02/2012 10:33

    Big, big, big stuff up.

  • David Gould (www.davidmagould.com) 02/02/2012 10:35

    Hi I just spoke to the organisation. I received the same correspondence. Commended means your image was one of the 50 chosen in the category you entered. So this is good news. Although disheartening in reflection of the mistaken first email ref shortlist. It will entail the image 1. being present in the Photobook for 2012 and 2. being digitally shown at the exhibition.

  • David Gould (www.davidmagould.com) 02/02/2012 10:36

    Hi I just spoke to the organisation. I received the same correspondence. Commended means your image was one of the 50 chosen in the category you entered. So this is good news. Although disheartening in reflection that it did not meet the final shortlist of 10 ref: the mistaken first email ref shortlist.
    It will entail the image 1. being present in the Photobook for 2012 and 2. being digitally shown at the exhibition.

  • Cathy Brown 02/02/2012 10:42

    I have too got an email now saying my work has been commended rather than short listed which is still great :-) after an up and down morning Im happy :-) see you in London guys

  • JamesKhoo 02/02/2012 10:47

    well i have a different "good" problem....my name is on the shortlist but i did not recd any email.

  • Kapil Pandey 02/02/2012 10:49

    expected a more descriptive email from WPO.. a better explanation of the error plus the meaning of COMMENDED in respect of the competition should be told.

  • Elimoe 02/02/2012 10:55

    Heh, I see many people that received emails, but cannot see their name on the list, however I see myself on the list, but haven't received any email yet :)

  • cijupcherian 02/02/2012 11:12

    Same strange things happened to me also....First the selection and then an apology !!!!!!

  • Steen Houmøller 02/02/2012 11:19

    Sooooo Happpppyyy. jumping around, smile, dance, call.......... THEN Silence.
    Please WPO put me on the real shortlist and sent a ticket for the plane.

  • Quicopedro 02/02/2012 11:42

    I received the same email informing me for the selection.. in the open ' Enhanced' category.. but my name is in Architecture.

  • daniber58 02/02/2012 12:11

    What a mess..... I was thinking Sony is a well organized company, but.......

  • Michalis Lipakis 02/02/2012 12:34

    How embarrassing!!!!!!!!!
    The results failed to develop.
    We are sorry for the inconvenience

  • N S Ng 02/02/2012 12:45

    I received an email that my name is on the shortlist. Yes, it is short listed in the Open Category, Travel section. But later I received another email, that my images have commended. What is going on??

  • Helio Silva 02/02/2012 13:02

    I'm shortlisted and then "commended" too.
    After all these posts I'm not shure if it is true or not.

  • Khalid 02/02/2012 13:15

    Can WPO publish the list of both Shorlisted and Commended in their site? Lots of confusion arising...

  • CRMacedonio 02/02/2012 13:28

    "Show of ball"!
    I'm very happy with the classification.
    Thanks a lot.

  • SK CHAU 02/02/2012 13:36

    Is this a competition and organisation I should trust ? There are so many mistakes.

  • SK CHAU 02/02/2012 13:37

    Is this a competition and organisation I should trust ? There are so many mistakes.

  • Elena Belevtseva 02/02/2012 13:37

    I also recived the "Commended" e-mail. What exactly does it mean? The photo was close to the shortlist but did not get in it? How many photos were commended in each category? Does it exactly mean smth or it just a apoligize for a wrong e-mail?
    May be WPO pill publish the list of commended works???? After all this mess it whould be a writ thing to do!

    And one more question - if the commended works will also be printed in a book is it possible to get it - by post may be - , if I can not attent the event in London?

  • SK CHAU 02/02/2012 13:38

    Is this a competition and organisation I should trust ? There are so many mistakes.

  • Bife Godoy 02/02/2012 14:06

    An organization that is a shame. All receive the same e-mail (leaving everyone happy) and then "dream is over."
    And now another e-mail "spam" saying it was only praised.
    Shame on the site.

  • N S Ng 02/02/2012 14:32

    I just received another email that I have been shortlisted and to upload the high resolution images. The high resolution uploader will be active from Feb. 10 and the deadline is Feb. 26. Shortlisted, commended???

    N S Ng

  • N S Ng 02/02/2012 14:33

    I just received another email that I have been shortlisted and to upload the high resolution images. The high resolution uploader will be active from Feb. 10 and the deadline is Feb. 26. Shortlisted, commended???

    N S Ng

  • Alexa 02/02/2012 14:35

    speravo in una minima segnalazione, e invece nulla!ho cercato di fare foto abbastanza pulite e più astratte possibili per le mie categorie... con tutte le foto inviate almeno potevano indicare molte più fotografie come meritevoli, scusate l inglese

  • Alexa 02/02/2012 14:36

    I was hoping for a minimal signaling, and yet nothing! I tried to take pictures of pretty clean and more abstract categories as possible for my ... with all the pictures sent at least they could give many more photographs as worthy, excuse the English

  • Alexa 02/02/2012 14:36

    I was hoping for a minimal signaling, and yet nothing! I tried to take pictures of pretty clean and more abstract categories as possible for my ... with all the pictures sent at least they could give many more photographs as worthy, excuse the English

  • Alexa 02/02/2012 14:36

    I was hoping for a minimal signaling, and yet nothing! I tried to take pictures of pretty clean and more abstract categories as possible for my ... with all the pictures sent at least they could give many more photographs as worthy, excuse the English

  • Alexa 02/02/2012 14:39

    I was hoping for a minimal signaling, and yet nothing! I tried to take pictures of pretty clean and more abstract categories as possible for my ... with all the pictures sent at least they could give many more photographs as worthy, excuse the English

  • Khalid 02/02/2012 15:10

    They replied my mail....saying the commended images will be publsihed in their site by 8th Feb...

  • Roman Tripler 02/02/2012 15:36

    What a disgrace to tell my family that it was a mistake that I am on the People-Shortlist. How nice it would have been that this picture on my upcoming exhibition is a photo from the WorldPhotoOrganisations shortlist. Ok, mistakes happen, but that may not happen at this level.

    Dream has come, dream has gone...

  • Roman Tripler 02/02/2012 16:02

    BTW: Congratulations to the real listed Photographers. Good luck for the final announcement.

  • sandracifo 02/02/2012 18:21

    I am so confused... I gotthe first email saying my photograph was one of the TOP 10 in the Open competition and shortlisted. Then I went to the gallery and did not see my image so I emailed them and asked them what had happened. They told me it was an error and I was on the COMMENDED list.....that i SHOULD HAD GOTTEN AN EMAIL WITH APOLOGIES (BUT I HADNT YET!!!)

    I felt like they had just taken a huge chocolate cupcake out of my mouth as I was going to take the first bite. But then I went to this link and my name is indeed on the list for Enhanced Open competition..... I am VERY very confused.

  • visualbinam 02/02/2012 18:23

    my name is on the shortlist but i didn't receive any email.

  • Kazi Sudipto 02/02/2012 18:48

    i am on the shortlist....but havn't got any mail till now....

  • Paolo Parazzo 02/02/2012 19:22

    yesterday i was on the shortlist.... now i am only one of the lucky loosers, i dreamed for some hours beeing a great photographer... shit happens.... i will survive... i`ll work again..., never believe in e-mail from wpo...

    paolo parazzo

  • Alejandro Gomez 02/02/2012 19:53

    wow, it's incredible to see how many people, including myself, got the same 'mistaken' email.... :o(

  • Yannis Behrakis 02/02/2012 20:08

    Well there is an explenation in all of these....Sony people are obviously not very professional....they maybe good in home cinema and TV's but photography and managing serious competitions is another story! Sad

  • khalan 02/02/2012 20:30

    This is disheartening, but it makes sense. If 50 images are selected as commended in each category, and there are 10 categories, that means 500 incorrect emails must have been sent. Whomever sent the emails clearly sent the "shortlist message" to all of the commended photographers by accident and didn't send anything to the actual shortlist winners until today.

    I understand everyone's disappointment because I went from being shortlisted to commended as well. It's not fun to have an imaginary trophy taken away from you, but don't forget that being commended is still an achievement. In fact, 500/52,323 = 0.9%. Being selected for something when you have less than a 1% chance, is still pretty good in my book.

  • khalan 02/02/2012 20:34

    Also, congratulations to the shortlisted photographers and finalists!

  • Paolo Parazzo 02/02/2012 20:58

    Yes, I am interested too... who will win the contest...,will we see us in london??? and discuss there about the throuth about e-mails??? drink some beer???

    paolo parazzo

  • borjalcazar 02/02/2012 21:03

    One more with the same history. What a pity!

  • Paolo Parazzo 02/02/2012 21:14

    yes, one more with the same history, and one more with the same future...

  • Lena M 02/02/2012 21:20

    What about the Tate Collective Youth Photography Award?

  • Terry Schmidbauer 02/02/2012 22:17

    The same thing happen to me last year in a PDN contest. Everyone in the contest was e-mailed saying that they had won the contest only to be notified later that it was a mistake. I haven't been back to that website since. Doubt that I will ever be a part of this WPO competition again.

    I feel really sorry for all of the people that read their e-mails and were so excited and happy with their world. I'm sure they telling everyone they know they were a winner only to find out they were just being commended (That doesn't really carry the same weight).

    I was busy last night so I was able to read both e-mail at the same time this morning. Still a bit confused as to what commended was but I was able to sort things out by reading this thread. Thanks to everyone who posted here.

    WPO did a terrible job first announcing to all of these people that they were shortlisted and then added to the confusion by letting them know they were commended without really explaining what the meaning of that was. Shame on the person\persons in charge of this fiasco!

  • rubynguyen-finland 02/02/2012 22:30

    Honestly, I don't know why people took a big fuss at what happened. Organizers are human being and of course they make mistakes. The important thing is the mistakes are apologized and corrected. So it's now our turn to face the truth and accept that other photographers deserve their prize. Well, my photo was commended too and I will celebrate it with friends. After that I will continue taking pictures as much as I can. Loser? I don't think so!

  • Nikita Prince 02/02/2012 23:19

    rubynguyen-finland, I totally agree with you. To be commended is also great. Don't be so worry.
    Keep trying guys))

  • N S Ng 03/02/2012 05:52

    It is confirmed one of my images has been shortlisted. My name is in the Open Category shortlist under Travel and my photo is also listed as well. The other email that stated my photos have been commended, could be referring to another 2 images that I have submitted. Well, I will know in a few more days.

  • Katia Repina 03/02/2012 09:33

    And i would like to know where is results for Youth Award-- Tate Collective Young Photography Award (The theme of this unique Award in collaboration with the Tate Collective is 'Urban'. This Award is open to anyone between 16 to 25 years old)
    I dont see any results in the category

    Best regards
    Katia

  • Yuri van Geenen 03/02/2012 13:00

    Anyone else experiencing slow server connections to the WPO site? Had the same when I tried to finalize my competition entries, website seemed completely overloaded and could not even log in anymore. Sent them an e-mail a couple of weeks ago, haven't heard eversince, amateurs.

  • Luca di Filippo 03/02/2012 14:26

    The quality of the website is something related to the Sony products quality? :) Quite frustrating to navigate, indeed...

  • Daniele 03/02/2012 14:48

    I'm so glad to have received the notification. It has been a wonderful suprise to me!
    Thank you to all the Sony World Photography Awards staff.

    Daniele Testa

  • Alessandra Minotti 03/02/2012 16:36

    Congratulation to the shortlisted photographer and finalist.I hope to have the honour to read under my competition image's the critics of jury chosen by sony.

  • Alla Aliokhina 03/02/2012 17:15

    My name in the Youth shortlisted photographers - Environment!!!!!
    But I don't know which of my photos was chosen. Can you help me??

  • Roman Solar Photography 03/02/2012 18:01

    i received two emails, firstly that i was shortlisted in "Enchanced" category, then day after that i am commended. What does it mean to be commended ? :)

  • Roman Solar Photography 03/02/2012 18:22

    oh i see :) i went through posts here, been commended means to be within 50 for each category, right? not bad :) congratulations people, enjoy weekend.

  • sinawia 03/02/2012 19:41

    I do not know how to participate in this competition .. As I have a great desire to participate .. I ask you to help

  • sinawia 03/02/2012 19:45

    Is it one can help me?

  • Simon-James Smith 04/02/2012 08:39

    There seems to be no mention of the new 3D category either in the shortlist announcement or the actual shortlist !

  • KasyanovaDarya 04/02/2012 10:08

    Alla Aliokhina, I have the same problem! Probably, we should wait a little, and our works will be published here. It`s really strange that we see only professional and open shortlists

  • noekita 04/02/2012 12:20

    But the great question is - where can I see the pictures from this shortlist?

  • Dolnikow 05/02/2012 09:58

    And Acknowledgment with an explanation of the WPO SONY about what happened.
    If our pictures are in the almanac, where and how you can buy this almanac, or it will be sent to us?

  • pinkflavour 05/02/2012 10:20

    This is so confusing, I'm on the shortlist and have received an e-mail, but can't find my picture anywhere, and have no idea which picture was chosen..... Hope they'll post some information soon about what's going on!

  • SPytel 05/02/2012 18:08

    WPO has made ​​quite a mess, I think they should give a formal answer on website ..
    . I have also received mistaken email ... for me it is all unserious..

  • Subjective 10/02/2012 15:14

    I am sorry for all of you who falsely received these accolades. However, you are not alone in the realm of such errors, and I think you should be thankful that you were falsely notified regarding being shortlisted for a prize and not falsely notified that you were accepted into your first choice university: "For Some Vassar Applicants, Joy Then Misery as College Corrects Mistake," http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/education/vassar-applicants-are-mistakenly-told-they-are-accepted.html.

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