American photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsaranaomiphoto.com%2FSingles%2F1%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sara Naomi Lewkowicz's </a>hard-hitting look at domestic violence placed first overall and first in the Contemporary Issues category of the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldphoto.org%2Fabout-the-sony-world-photography-awards%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">2014 Sony World Photography Awards</a>, a competition that celebrates the best in international contemporary photography. Jurors announced the professional winners on Wednesday, April 30. (CNN Digital's Director of Photography Simon Barnett helped judge this year's contest.)
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
American photographer Sara Naomi Lewkowicz's hard-hitting look at domestic violence placed first overall and first in the Contemporary Issues category of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards, a competition that celebrates the best in international contemporary photography. Jurors announced the professional winners on Wednesday, April 30. (CNN Digital's Director of Photography Simon Barnett helped judge this year's contest.)
Sara Lewkowicz via sony world photography awards
Lewkowicz was working on a project about the challenges that an ex-convict faced when an argument with his girlfriend <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com%2F2013%2F06%2F03%2Fan-unflinching-look-at-domestic-abuse%2F">escalated one night</a> and everything changed. "It's important for her and for anybody who has experienced this kind of abuse to realize it's not their fault," Lewkowicz said. "They didn't do anything to deserve it."
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Lewkowicz was working on a project about the challenges that an ex-convict faced when an argument with his girlfriend escalated one night and everything changed. "It's important for her and for anybody who has experienced this kind of abuse to realize it's not their fault," Lewkowicz said. "They didn't do anything to deserve it."
Sara Lewkowicz via Sony World Photography Awards
British photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fguy-martin.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Guy Martin's</a> work on the 2013 riots in Istanbul placed first in the Current Affairs category.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
British photographer Guy Martin's work on the 2013 riots in Istanbul placed first in the Current Affairs category.
Guy Martin via sony world photography awards
Martin said he hoped to capture the theatricality of the events in Istanbul. "The use of strobe lighting on my part was a deliberate attempt to try and convey the inherent sense of drama," he said.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Martin said he hoped to capture the theatricality of the events in Istanbul. "The use of strobe lighting on my part was a deliberate attempt to try and convey the inherent sense of drama," he said.
Guy Martin via sony world photography awards
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vivianaperetti.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Viviana Peretti</a> of Italy won the Arts & Culture category with her series "Dancing Like a Woman," shot during the 2013 National Bambuco Gay Pageant in Bogota, Colombia. Young drag queens face off in a series of challenges that involve dance and elaborate costumes.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Viviana Peretti of Italy won the Arts & Culture category with her series "Dancing Like a Woman," shot during the 2013 National Bambuco Gay Pageant in Bogota, Colombia. Young drag queens face off in a series of challenges that involve dance and elaborate costumes.
Viviana Peretti via sony world photography awards
Peretti photographed Nataly Angel Miranda, the winner of the 2012 contest, in her dressing room ahead of the 2013 pageant. "The theme of bambuco is love," Peretti said. "The process of falling in love and courting in the rural society is expressed through the dance."
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Peretti photographed Nataly Angel Miranda, the winner of the 2012 contest, in her dressing room ahead of the 2013 pageant. "The theme of bambuco is love," Peretti said. "The process of falling in love and courting in the rural society is expressed through the dance."
Viviana Peretti via sony world photography awards
Italian photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myriammeloni.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Myriam Meloni</a> won the Lifestyle category for her work in Moldova, where she photographed families impacted by migration. The woman in this photo cares for her three grandchidlren because her daughter moved abroad in search of work opportunities. "I was attracted by the gesture of love and complicity between them," she said.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Italian photographer Myriam Meloni won the Lifestyle category for her work in Moldova, where she photographed families impacted by migration. The woman in this photo cares for her three grandchidlren because her daughter moved abroad in search of work opportunities. "I was attracted by the gesture of love and complicity between them," she said.
Myriam Meloni via sony world photography awards
Meloni said this image captures the helplessness of a young father who must care for his daughter alone while his wife lives and works in Russia. She says it portrays the difficulties of "working and parenting in a country with serious economic problems and very few opportunities for personal development."
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Meloni said this image captures the helplessness of a young father who must care for his daughter alone while his wife lives and works in Russia. She says it portrays the difficulties of "working and parenting in a country with serious economic problems and very few opportunities for personal development."
Myriam Meloni via sony world photography awards
British photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amandaharman.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Amanda Harman</a> won the Still Life category for her series of "accidental still lives" made around the glasshouses, potting sheds and scullery of a country house.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
British photographer Amanda Harman won the Still Life category for her series of "accidental still lives" made around the glasshouses, potting sheds and scullery of a country house.
Amanda Harman via sony world photography awards
Harman's images "seek to make visible the unseen work of the gardeners."
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Harman's images "seek to make visible the unseen work of the gardeners."
Amanda Harman via Sony World Photography Awards
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fludovicmaillard.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Ludovic Maillard</a> of France took first place in the Architecture category. He explored the abandoned spaces beneath Paris' major ring road. "It is both a frontier between Paris and its suburbs and a no man's land hidden under the busiest highway in France," he said.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Ludovic Maillard of France took first place in the Architecture category. He explored the abandoned spaces beneath Paris' major ring road. "It is both a frontier between Paris and its suburbs and a no man's land hidden under the busiest highway in France," he said.
ludovic maillard via sony world photography awards
Maillard shot this image at Porte de Bagnolet, in the east of Paris. He said the series did not present any technical challenges, but it did test his resolve. "I had to walk for days in deserted places," he said. "Sometimes I was expelled from the areas I was photographing by drug dealers and lost my way on foot in the middle of very large motorway exchanges."
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Maillard shot this image at Porte de Bagnolet, in the east of Paris. He said the series did not present any technical challenges, but it did test his resolve. "I had to walk for days in deserted places," he said. "Sometimes I was expelled from the areas I was photographing by drug dealers and lost my way on foot in the middle of very large motorway exchanges."
Ludovic Maillard via sony world photography awards
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsophiegamand.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sophie Gamand</a> of France won the Portraiture category for her "wet dog" series. She captured man's best friend as he endures his least favorite activity: taking a bath. "I have been photographing dogs for three years, but I am always surprised at the variety of facial expressions they use," she said.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Sophie Gamand of France won the Portraiture category for her "wet dog" series. She captured man's best friend as he endures his least favorite activity: taking a bath. "I have been photographing dogs for three years, but I am always surprised at the variety of facial expressions they use," she said.
Sophie Gamand via sony world photography awards
The dogs are photographed just before they shake the water off their fur. "Exposing them at such a vulnerable moment allowed me to catch a glimpse of the rich range of emotions they are able display in their attempt to communicate with us," Gamand said.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
The dogs are photographed just before they shake the water off their fur. "Exposing them at such a vulnerable moment allowed me to catch a glimpse of the rich range of emotions they are able display in their attempt to communicate with us," Gamand said.
Sophie Gamand via sony world photography awards
Sports category winner <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.salvatoredigregorio.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Salvatore Di Gregorio</a> of Italy documented life inside an Akhara, where a school of Indian wrestling is practiced. "Training is very rigid," he said. "It begins as early as 4 a.m. and lasts until the evening for an exhausting regimen of weightlifting and push-ups."
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Sports category winner Salvatore Di Gregorio of Italy documented life inside an Akhara, where a school of Indian wrestling is practiced. "Training is very rigid," he said. "It begins as early as 4 a.m. and lasts until the evening for an exhausting regimen of weightlifting and push-ups."
Salvatore Di Gregorio via sony world photography awards
Di Gregorio had to be wary of bodies in motion. "I had to get very close to them while they were fighting and sometimes I was dodging up to 10 wrestlers sparring simultaneously. I was as quick as possible to capture the picture I wanted, and with such dim light conditions it was quite a challenge."
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Di Gregorio had to be wary of bodies in motion. "I had to get very close to them while they were fighting and sometimes I was dodging up to 10 wrestlers sparring simultaneously. I was as quick as possible to capture the picture I wanted, and with such dim light conditions it was quite a challenge."
Salvatore Di Gregorio via sony world photography awards
German photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mariowezel.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Mario Wezel</a> earned first place in the People category for his photographs of a young girl living with Down syndrome in Denmark.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
German photographer Mario Wezel earned first place in the People category for his photographs of a young girl living with Down syndrome in Denmark.
Mario Wezel via Sony World Photography Awards
"It was nice, since the family has this great way of interacting with each other," Wezel said. "They are very focused on each other, so I could just shoot as I wanted to but also be part of the everyday life if I took the camera down." His project was published on the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com%2F2013%2F11%2F24%2Fliving-with-down-syndrome%2F">CNN Photos blog</a> in November.
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"It was nice, since the family has this great way of interacting with each other," Wezel said. "They are very focused on each other, so I could just shoot as I wanted to but also be part of the everyday life if I took the camera down." His project was published on the CNN Photos blog in November.
Mario Wezel via sony world photography awards
American photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.michaelnicknichols.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Michael K. Nichols</a> won the Nature & Wildlife category for his in-depth study of lions in the Serengeti. He said the goal of the project was to raise awareness about the plight of the species. Recent surveys estimate that fewer than 30,000 wild lions remain.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
American photographer Michael K. Nichols won the Nature & Wildlife category for his in-depth study of lions in the Serengeti. He said the goal of the project was to raise awareness about the plight of the species. Recent surveys estimate that fewer than 30,000 wild lions remain.
Michael Nichols via sony world photography awards
In this image, Nichols captured lions resting near a watering hole. He spent 12 months with the lions.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
In this image, Nichols captured lions resting near a watering hole. He spent 12 months with the lions.
Michael Nichols via Sony World Photography Awards
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ricardoteles.com%2Fingles%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Ricardo Teles</a> of Brazil won the Travel category. He shot this image in the city of Jangada in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. "This place, crossed by the 163 highway, has a heavy movement of trucks going to the south," he said. "The picture shows a small amusement park on the margin of the highway used mostly by the children who travel in trucks with their parents."
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Ricardo Teles of Brazil won the Travel category. He shot this image in the city of Jangada in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. "This place, crossed by the 163 highway, has a heavy movement of trucks going to the south," he said. "The picture shows a small amusement park on the margin of the highway used mostly by the children who travel in trucks with their parents."
Ricardo Teles via sony world photography awards
Teles took this photo of truck drivers picking up soya shipments in Campo Novo do Parecis. "The truck drivers face a long journey of 1,200 miles to the ports," he said.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Teles took this photo of truck drivers picking up soya shipments in Campo Novo do Parecis. "The truck drivers face a long journey of 1,200 miles to the ports," he said.
Ricardo Teles via sony world photography awards
British photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spencermurphy.co.uk%2Fproject%2Fportfolio%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Spencer Murphy</a> won the Campaign category. He shot this portrait ahead of Britain's famed Grand National horse race. "The restraints of portrait photography are often the same: time, circumstance, location and an interesting and willing participant," he said. "When all those things fall into place and you are allowed to do your job, then it makes for great images."
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British photographer Spencer Murphy won the Campaign category. He shot this portrait ahead of Britain's famed Grand National horse race. "The restraints of portrait photography are often the same: time, circumstance, location and an interesting and willing participant," he said. "When all those things fall into place and you are allowed to do your job, then it makes for great images."
spencer murphy via sony world photography awards
"It was an extremely challenging but extremely rewarding assignment, and I had a great team of people working with me," Murphy said, "which immensely takes the pressure off and lets me concentrate solely on the photography."
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
"It was an extremely challenging but extremely rewarding assignment, and I had a great team of people working with me," Murphy said, "which immensely takes the pressure off and lets me concentrate solely on the photography."
spencer murphy via sony world photography awards
Israeli photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.roeigreenbergphotography.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Roei Greenberg</a> won the Landscape category for a series that examines the relationship between natural and man-made worlds in Israel.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Israeli photographer Roei Greenberg won the Landscape category for a series that examines the relationship between natural and man-made worlds in Israel.
Roei Greenberg via sony world photography awards
Greenberg's landscapes offer a quiet look at a country that is constantly in conflict.
2014 Sony World Photography Awards —
Greenberg's landscapes offer a quiet look at a country that is constantly in conflict.
Roei Greenberg via Sony World Photography Awards