Image description
The prototype of today's Akihabara was a gathering of street vendors selling parts for radios. After the late 1950's, during a period of rapid economic growth, Akihabara grew into ‘Japan's largest electronics town.’ Nowadays, it is famous worldwide for its anime and cosplay culture. With two different faces, we can say Akihabara is a town that embodies an essence of ‘Japaneseness.’
Shortlist
Wan Yong Chong
Mongolian Shepherd
A nomadic Mongolian shepherd guides a herd of cashmere goats through the harsh, wintry landscape. Despite the biting cold and swirling snow, the shepherd remains steadfast, embodying resilience and dedication to a centuries-old way of life.
© Wan Yong Chong, Malaysia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Yaping Du
Children in the Mountains
This image depicts the carefree life of children in the mountains.
© Yaping Du, China Mainland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Syed Mahabubul Kader
Paddy Straw
A group of workers unloads paddy straw from a truck. The rice straw is a by-product of farming that is used for a variety of purposes, including as cattle feed and fuel.
© Syed Mahabubul Kader, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Yevhen Kostiuk
Jump!
This photograph was taken in Split, Croatia. It captures a scene of relaxation on a hot day by the Adriatic Sea.
© Yevhen Kostiuk, Ukraine, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Barry Mayes
‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’
While preparing for a photography trip in Namibia, the photographer spent a couple of days with friends at a hotel in Windhoek. Resting by the swimming pool, he noticed these clouds floating by and used his infrared-converted camera to create the vibrant contrast and slight glow in this image.
© Barry Mayes, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Kevin Molano
On the Tightrope
Suspended between the sky and the earth, Diego Molano, a highline athlete, rests on the slender rope, having traversed nearly 420 metres. Below him lies the 200-metre-deep abyss of Piedra Colgada, and around him, the vastness of Colombia. This image captures the courage needed to walk into the void and the serenity of finding peace in the seemingly impossible.
© Kevin Molano, Colombia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Lucero Mora Ardila
El Norte (The North)
El Norte is a fashion editorial set in Tamaulipas, Mexico, and was produced in collaboration with stylist Dina Elizabeth. It reflects urban identities through upcycled outfits that are inspired by sustainable fashion trends. The artist, whose family has worked in the market area since her birth, explores how this environment shapes identity and everyday narratives in public spaces.
© Lucero Mora Ardila, Mexico, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Kathryn Mussallem
Winner of the Crab Derby
On the last weekend of August, there is a crab derby in the small seaside vacation town of Birch Bay, USA. People travel from all around to be judged on how many crabs they can catch and how big they are. This was the champion on this particular day.
© Kathryn Mussallem, Canada, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Maira Ray
Before the Show Starts
This portrait, taken shortly before a fashion show in Paris, France, captures a model in a serene moment of solitude. Standing in a dark, wood-panelled room, his vintage trench coat and refined neck scarf exude timeless elegance.
© Maira Ray, Brazil, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Enamur Reza
Loss and Survival
The photographer’s grandmother sits on a fragile island of silt where her house once stood, surrounded by still waters – a symbol of displacement and resilience. The composition suggests a journey shaped by loss and survival. The quiet violence of environmental degradation, river erosion and the isolation it imposes also serve as a testament to endurance in the face of an uncertain landscape.
© Enamur Reza, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Emma Rogers
The Wranglers of Red Horse Mountain
In rural Idaho, USA, horses haven’t been ruled out as a means of exploring the beautiful landscapes that have been preserved for generations. Once a gold mine, Red Horse Mountain Ranch now brings people from across the world to experience the jaw-dropping scenery. This image of the photographer’s wrangler friends encapsulates the serenity of the valley they called home for the summer.
© Emma Rogers, New Zealand, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Scott Seager
Untitled
A local fisherman casts into the surf, just after sunset in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.
© Scott Seager, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Zhang Xun
Untitled
A Kham Tibetan man in Daofu County, Sichuan, China, dressed in a traditional handcrafted robe passed down from his grandfather.
© Zhang Xun, China Mainland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards