Image description
These elaborate handmade kites were photographed at the Fanø International Kite Fliers Meeting, one of the world’s largest kite flying events.
Shortlist
Petia Angelova
Free
During a walk, the photographer discovered this toy standing abandoned in the fog.
© Petia Angelova, Bulgaria, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Fabi Bick
Laundry Day
This picture is part of a series that aims to de-stigmatise and celebrate the natural cycle of menstruation. The photographer chose to show her own blood-stained underwear in a public setting as a symbol of empowerment. The underwear serves as a record of her girlhood, with some marks staying and others washing away over time. They are proof of struggles and victories; putting it out in the open allows it to unite other people with the same experiences.
© Fabi Bick, Germany, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Robert Bolton
Waiting for the Catch
An expectant bird waits for the fishing to start in this fishing net at Fort Kochi, Kerala, India.
© Robert Bolton, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Angelo Brancaccio
Spaghetti Western Dream
This photograph was taken in a bar in Vescovato, in the northern Italian countryside. The red and blue of the ‘fubalino’ (table football) is in the foreground, with dreams on the horizon.
© Angelo Brancaccio, Italy, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Rajeev Gaikwad
Phantom Bloom
Amidst a vast abandoned waste marble dumping yard in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, a lone tree reaches towards the sky, its bare branches a testament to its resilience. Hanging from the branch, the vivid burst of colour of the two bags introduces a touch of humanity. In this image, the photographer reflects on the delicate balance between nature and human presence in an unforgiving landscape.
© Rajeev Gaikwad, India, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Ieva Gailė
Misfit
Misfit captures the quiet rebellion of a lone cabbage among rows of identical plastic bottles. Its vibrant, organic green colour clashes with the muted, artificial hues of the bottles, amplifying its isolation. Encased in synthetic plastic, the scene underscores the tension between nature and industry – a small, unapologetic act of defiance that breaks the monotony of uniformity.
© Ieva Gaile, Lithuania, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Ralf Hanisch
Yellow Bin
This photograph was taken in the German city of Fürth. The yellow bin creates a complementary focal point in front of the colour-block wall.
© Ralf Hanisch, Germany, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Muhammad Amdad Hossain
Recovery
A family dries clothes and essential items on the roof of their home in Gopal village, south east Bangladesh, following devastating flash floods. The floods killed at least fifty two people and affected multiple districts; more than five million people were affected in some way.
© Muhammad Amdad Hossain, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Garbage and Nature - Cellophane
This image is part of a wider project that delves into environmental concerns with a particular focus on the issue of waste recycling. The photographer juxtaposes natural elements with commonplace household objects and discarded materials, aiming ‘to inspire a deeper reflection on humanity’s role in fostering a more sustainable relationship with the environment.’
© Nataliia Hresko, Ukraine, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Rakibul Alam Khan
Charak Puja: Seeking Blessings and Prosperity
Charak Puja is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and Bangladesh to honour Lord Shiva and seek blessings for prosperity and a good harvest. Held in the month of Chaitra (April), the festival involves rituals and acts of devotion, such as body piercing with iron hooks and walking on burning coals, symbolising self-sacrifice and unwavering faith.
© Rakibul Alam Khan, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Edyta Kopcio
Photo Dictionary - PL- EN - DE - ES : Poduszki na krzesło - Chair cushions - Stuhlkissen - Cojines de silla
Edyta Kopcio notes ‘this particular image to me is filled with so much silence and peace. It is as if the cushions are affectionately leaning on each other while enjoying the view.’ Taken in a church in Berlin, and is part of the photographer’s ongoing photo series 'Photo Dictionary - PL - EN - DE - ES.’
© Edyta Kopcio, Poland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Oliver Lahrem
The Pasqueflower
This was one of the first pasqueflowers of spring, and therefore particularly large. It was photographed in a garden, with a light-coloured background positioned behind the plant in order to place focus on this particular flower.
© Oliver Lahrem, Germany, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Yuting Li
Untitled
As the Chinese Spring Festival approached, the photographer came across a family preparing for the celebrations in the traditional way. They had cured fish hanging up – a common practice leading up to the festival – but it was the striking blue seating that stood out in the scene.
© Yuting Li, China Mainland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Carol Santiago
The Egg: A Fragile Light in a Chaotic World
What does a person do with nothing? When the photographer lost sight of who she was, her search for purpose in a world saturated with conflict became a symbol of resilience and a message of peace. The egg reminded her of what is most precious: that, in our fragility, we can find strength and meaning. We can be our own light and hope.
© Carol Santiago, Mexico, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards