Image description
Dian Ji Wu took this photo during summer break in 2024, at Venice Beach Skatepark in LA during golden hour. The photographer captured this image of a skater mid-air, silhouetted against the sunset, expressing the raw energy of that moment. He says this image ‘made me feel a sense of passion and freedom.’
Shortlist
Chidima Ugwuedeh
Aroha na Ihunanya (Love Across Cultures)
This photograph celebrates Ugwuedeh’s Māori and Igbo heritage, uniting both cultures. Taken in September 2024 in a bush near her home, it features a Māori kākahu and a vibrant African-inspired garment. The photographer carefully planned the scene, creating props to reflect both cultures. Speedlights and an LED panel illuminate the models, highlighting the colours in the frame, and connecting the photographer’s dual identity. The image captures a moment of stillness and natural beauty.
© Chidima Ugwuedeh, New Zealand, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Shayna Cuenca
Parts of the Whole
These hand-made self-portrait blocks represent a fragmented identity. In an attempt to see one’s identity as a whole, we often, instead, see ourselves in fractured pieces which we eventually put together.
© Shayna Cuenca, United States, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Matteo Botta
Schwarzberg and the River
The image portrays the majestic Schwarzberg mountain near the Maighels river, a tributary of the Rhine. It was taken in August during a three day hiking trip with the photographer’s friends. Botta was extremely tired, but says the view ‘was just too good to not fly the drone.’ The light pierced through the clouds illuminating the scene in a dreamy way, so Botta took a three picture panorama of the scene. The little house creates a dramatic sense of scale.
© Matteo Botta, Switzerland, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Ankit Ghosh
Prometheus
This image was shot during the Vijaya Dasami, the final day of Durga Puja, a festival celebrated commonly in Bengali culture, and across the world. Here, a man spits kerosene into thin air, makes a flame out of it using a matchstick.
© Ankit Ghosh, India, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Oliver Marks
The Lifts
Travelling to a friend's family reunion in March, Marks was astounded by the vistas on his first trip to continental Europe. On the first day in France, the bright colours and airy, almost impressionistic qualities of the mountain felt like something entirely new to the photographer. With this photo, Marks intended to capture a slice of that world that he could bring home to his much different life in Los Angeles.
© Oliver Marks, United States, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Claire Gonzalez
Wanderer on Mars
Wanderer on Mars was taken at the Bentonite Hills in Utah, outside of Capitol Reef National Park. Gonzales compares the experience of hiking in the hills to feeling ‘as if I were on Mars.’ Her heart beat, not only with exhaustion from the intense hiking through the terrain, but also from awe at the unique beauty of the diverse and empty landscape. After slipping and stumbling up the rocky dune, Gonzalez shot quickly as she was sliding.
© Claire Gonzalez, United States, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Tinnapat Netcharussaeng
Night Surfer
A Paper Nautilus 'surfs' on a leaf in the middle of the night in Anilao, Philippines.This image was shot during a night dive with underwater housing, strobes, and scuba gear, at 15m depth. Netcharussaeng shot this image to show the challenges of deep-sea life, along with the unique and beautiful ways in which animals adapt.
© Tinnapat Netcharussaeng, Thailand, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Landon Chong Chung Yi
Golden Mistscape
This photo was taken during a trip to Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, in March. After nearly a week of meticulously exploring Google Maps, Chong uncovered this breathtaking vantage point. The effort paid off when the photographer arrived at the location right before dawn. As the golden light of daybreak emerged, it gently unveiled layers of mist, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. The photographer described the scene as ‘more mesmerizing than words can describe.’
© Landon Chong Chung Yi, Malaysia, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Zachariah Levens
Sing When You Win
Ampthill Rugby Club celebrate a win against Doncaster Knights after a challenging few matches.
Levens had seen a video of the boys celebrating a victory previously, and thought it would be something incredible to photograph when they won their next game. He made an effort to capture the atmosphere of the celebrations.
© Zachariah Levens, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Joshua Hasanoff
DJ Broken Down
DJ Broken Down shows a person fixing a broken down car which looks like a DJ turntable. Hasanoff took the image in May 2024, inspired by artist Gregory Crewdson to use light to evoke a story.
© Joshua Hasanoff, Australia, Shortlist, Youth Competition, Open Call: Show us your best images!, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards