Sony World Photography Awards's blog ^pro

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[EN] If you plan to visit Paris famous Salon de la Photo, taking place from October 15th to 19th, don't miss the Sony World Photography Awards Global Tour exhibition at Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, in Paris, from October 15th to 24th!

Each year, the Sony World Photography Awards Global Tour showcases the winners and promote their work, bringing their extraordinary achievements to a whole new audience through original exhibitions in some of the world’s most prestigious photographic galleries and other uniquely selected venues.

ipernity, SWPA official partner, is proud to invite you to the private viewing, taking place on Tuesday October 15th evening.

To get your free pass for the private viewing, contact Sophie@ipernity!
(limited places, first-come first-served ;-)

2008 Global Tour exhibition album:

[FR] Si vous avez prévu de vous rendre au Salon de la Photo, qui se tiendra à Paris du 15 au 19 octobre, ne manquez pas la date parisienne du Sony World Photography Awards Global Tour, à la Galerie Esther Woerdehoff de Paris, du 15 au 24 octobre!

Chaque année, le Sony World Photography Awards Global Tour expose les vainqueurs et fait la promotion de leur travail, permettant ainsi à un nouveau public d'accéder à leurs oeuvres, dans le cadre d'expositions originales organisées dans les plus prestigieuses galeries du monde.

ipernity, partenaire officiel du SWPA, a le plaisir de vous inviter au vernissage qui se tiendra le jeudi 15 octobre en début de soirée.

Pour obtenir votre carton d'invitation au vernissage, contactez Sophie@ipernity !
(places limitées, premiers arrivés premiers servis ;-)

Location: 36 rue Falguière - 75015 Paris, France - View on map
Metro: Falguière/Pasteur - Bus: #95 "Musée de la Poste"
www.ewgalerie.com

Each year, the Global Tour showcases the winners and promotes their work in some of the world's most prestigious photographic galleries.

Here are the next dates :

• Toronto, Canada - Edward Day Gallery, 6th-20th October, 2009
• Paris, Esther Woerderhoff Gallery, 15th-24th October, 2009
• New York, USA - Aperture Gallery, 22nd-30th October, 2009
• Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia "Pavilion", 22nd-23rd October, 2009
• Bangkok, Thailand - Ardel Gallery of Modern Art, 26th November - 12th December, 2009
• London, Opus Gallery, March 2009
• Berlin, 2010

During these events, you'll be able to discover 2009 Sony World Photography Awards winners extraordinary achievements.

Feel free to visit Sony World Photography Awards website to get more information.

[EN] ipernity, official partner of the Sony World Photography Awards, invites all the photographers among its members to participate to the 2010 amateur competition.

The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international, welcoming people from across the globe to submit their photographs into an exciting amateur competition, which is run alongside the Professional Awards.

As an amateur photographer, you also have the opportunity to be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the most sought after prizes in the competition: The Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

Submitting your images

Each photographer may submit up to a total of 3 photographs into the competition for free. The 3 photographs can be submitted into any one amateur category or spread across two - three different categories.

Images entered must have been shot in 2009

Categories are:

1. Architecture
2. Conceptual & Constructed
3. Documentary
4. Fashion
5. Landscape
6. Music
7. Natural History
8. Portraiture
9. Sport

The Judging Process

Your images will go through various pre-selection rounds by our officially selected 2010 Pre-Selection Committee, iStock.

If your image is selected to go into the top 400, you will then be judged by the 2010 Judging Committee, comprising selected World Photographic Academy members.

A shortlist of top ten amateur photographers per category will be announced in February 2010.

The 8 Category Winners, will be showcased as part of the official 2010 Finalists exhibitions in Cannes, be published in the winner’s book and be announced to the worldwide press as Sony World Photography Awards Category Winners in March, 2010. These winners will also have the opportunity to be part of an annual SWPA Global Tour and showcased on the SWPA website for all of 2010.

One grand prize winner will be selected from the 8 category winners by the 2010 Judging Committee and be awarded The Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

The overall winner and a guest will be flown to Cannes, receive two nights’ accommodation in a luxury hotel on the famous Croisette, receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony on the 15th of April, 2010, and collect their prize of $5,000 and a Sony gift. The winner will also receive week-long passes to attend the World Photography Festival screenings, workshops, exhibitions, talks and other events taking place throughout the city of Cannes from the 13th – 18th of April 2010.

Entering the competition

► Official web site: learn more and enter the competition

Be known in ipernity as a participant

► Share your entered images in your ipernity space

► Add them to the ipernity group created for each competition category

• Architecture
• Conceptual & Constructed
• Documentary
• Fashion
• Landscape
• Music
• Natural History
• Portraiture
• Sport

Explore the pages that ipernity has dedicated to the SWPA

► www.ipernity.com/wpa

[FR] ipernity, partenaire officiel des Sony World Photography Awards, invite tous les photographes parmi ses membres à participer au concours amateur 2010.

Le Sony World Photography Awards est une organisation internationale qui accueille des personnes du monde entier, lesquels proposent leurs clichés dans des concours d’Amateurs particulièrement stimulants – concours qui se déroulent parallèlement aux Professional Awards.

Si vous êtes photographe amateur, vous avez vous aussi la possibilité d’être évalué par la World Photographic Academy qui vous donnera peut-être l'opportunité de monter sur les planches de Cannes pour y recevoir l’une des distinctions les plus courues du concours : le Photographe Amateur de l’Année des Sony World Photography Awards.

Comment concourir

Chaque photographe peut proposer gratuitement jusqu’à trois photos dans le cadre du concours. Ces 3 photos peuvent être soumises dans une seule ou deux ou trois catégories différentes.

Les photographies participantes doivent avoir été prises en 2009.

Les catégories sont :

1. Architecture
2. Conceptuel & Construction
3. Documentaire
4. Mode
5. Paysage
6. Musique
7. Histoire naturelle
8. Portrait
9. Sport

La procédure de sélection

Les photos passent plusieurs étapes de présélection devant notre Comité de Présélection iStock.

Si votre photo est retenue parmi les 400 meilleures, vous serez évalué par le Jury 2010, lequel inclut des membres de la World Photographic Academy.

Une liste de dix finalistes amateurs dans chaque catégorie sera rendue publique le 24 février 2010.

Les 8 lauréats des catégories seront exposés dans le cadre des expositions officielles des finalistes de 2010 à Cannes ; leurs noms seront communiqués à la presse internationale en mars 2010, comme Lauréats par catégorie des Sony World Photography Awards. Ces lauréats pourront également participer à une Tournée Mondiale annuelle de la SWPA et seront exposés sur le site internet de la SWPA tout au long de l’année 2010.

Parmi les huit lauréats par catégorie, un lauréat du Grand Prix sera choisi par le Jury 2010 ; il obtiendra la distinction de Photographe Amateur de l’Année des Sony World Photography Awards.

Le gagnant du grand prix sera invité avec une personne de son choix à Cannes, pour deux nuits dans un hôtel de luxe sur la célèbre Croisette, des billets VIP pour la soirée de gala du 15 avril 2010, ainsi qu’une somme de 5.000 $ et un cadeau remis par Sony. Ce lauréat obtiendra également des badges pour toute la semaine, qui lui permettront d’assister au Festival Mondial de la Photographie - à ses expositions, projections, ateliers de travail, conférences et autres événements qui auront lieu à Cannes entre les 13 et 18 avril 2010.

Participez à la compétition

► Site officiel: en savoir plus et participer à la compétition

Faites le savoir sur ipernity!

► Partagez les photos soumises dans votre espace ipernity

► Ajoutez les aux groupes ipernity dédiés à chaque categorie

• Architecture
• Conceptuel & Constructi
• Documentary
• Mode
• Paysage
• Musique
• Histoire naturelle
  
• Portrait
• Sport

Explorez les pages qu'ipernity dédie aux SWPA

► www.ipernity.com/wpa

[DE] ipernity, offizieller Partner der Sony World Photography Awards, lädt alle Fotografen unter seinen Mitgliedern ein, zum 2010 Amateurwettbewerb teilzunehmen.

Die internationalen Sony World Photography Awards heißen Menschen aus aller Welt willkommen, ihre Werke für den Amateur-Wettbewerb einzureichen. Dieser findet parallel zu den Profiauszeichnungen statt.

Als Amateurfotograf haben Sie ebenfalls die Chance, von der World Photographic Academy ausgezeichnet zu werden, und die Möglichkeit in Cannes einen der begehrten Preise im Wettbewerb zu erhalten: Den Sony World Photography Awards Amateurfotografen des Jahres.

Einreichen Ihrer Bilder

Jeder Fotograf kann gratis bis zu 3 Fotos einreichen. Die 3 Fotos können in einer Amateurkategorie eingereicht werden, oder über zwei oder drei Kategorien verteilt werden.

Die eingereichten Bilder müssen 2009 geschossen worden sein.

Kategorien

1. Architektur
2. Konzept & konstruiert
3. Dokumentar
4. Mode
5. Landschaft
6. Musik
7. Naturgeschichte
8. Portrait
9. Sport

Der Bewertungsprozess

Ihre Bilder werden durch verschiedene Vorauswahlrunden mit unserem offiziell auserwählten 2010-Vorauswahlskommittee iStock – einer Getty Bilderagentur gehen.

Falls Ihr Bild in die ersten 400 aufgenommen wird, werden Sie durch das Bewertungskommittee 2010gehen. Dieses besteht aus auserwählten Mitgliedern der World Photographic Academy.

Am Februar 2010 werden die zehn besten Fotografen pro Kategorie ernannt, und kommen in die engere Auswahl.

Die Sieger der acht Kategorien werden als Teil der offiziellen Ausstellung der Finalisten 2010 in Cannes ausgestellt und im März 2010 der internationalen Presse als Kategoriesieger der Sony Photography Awards vorgestellt. Diese Sieger haben ebenfalls die Chance, Teil einer SWPA-Welttournee zu sein und auf der SWPA-Internetseite im ganzen Jahr 2010 ausgestellt zu werden.

Ein Gesamtsieger wird aus den acht Kategoriesiegern durch das Bewertungskommittee 2010 ausgewählt und erhält den Sony World Photography Award Amateurfotograf des Jahres.

Der Gesamtsieger und ein Gast werden nach Cannes eingeflogen, erhalten zwei Übernachtungen in einem Luxuxhotel auf der berühmten Croisette, zwei VIP-Tickets für den Galaabend im April 2010, ein Preisgeld von 5.000 $ und ein Geschenk von Sony. Außerdem erhält der Sieger Wocheneintrittskarten für Vorstellungen, Workshops, Ausstellungen, Gesprächsrunden und andere Veranstaltungen auf dem World Photography Festival, das vom 13. bis zum 18. April in ganz Cannes stattfinden wird.

Entering the competition

► Offizielle Website: lernen Sie mehr und enter the competition

Be known in ipernity as a participant

► Share your entered images in your ipernity space

► Add them to the ipernity group created for each competition category

• Architektur
• Konzept & konstruiert
• Dokumentar
• Mode
• Landschaft
• Musik
• Naturgeschichte
• Portrait
• Sport

Explore the pages that ipernity has dedicated to the SWPA

► www.ipernity.com/wpa

The 2010 Sony World Photography Awards is now open for entries.

With categories for both professional and amateur photographers, the Sony World Photography Awards is one of the world’s largest photographic events. The awards are a platform for both established and emerging photographers and in 2009 the competition attracted over 60,000 entrants from 139 different countries.

The competition for professional photographers incorporates 12 categories across three genres – commercial, fine art and photojournalism/documentary. The overall winner will take the coveted L’Iris D’Or title together with $25,000 (USD) along with Sony camera equipment. The 36 category finalists will then be exhibited in galleries across the world as part of the Sony World Photography Awards Global Tour throughout 2010 and 2011.

New for the 2010 awards, a documentary category has been introduced for amateur photographers. Whether documenting a person, place or current issue, the category is looking for an image which captures momentous occurrences of every day life. From the nine categories, one photographer will be chosen as the Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year and win a grand prize of $5,000 (USD) and Sony camera equipment.

The Campaign Award 2010 also launched on 1 June. A special category for amateur photographers, the award seeks to uncover imagery that captures the emotion and the passion of football from the fan’s point of view - the highs, the lows, and the incredible lengths supporters will go to support their teams. The winning photograph will be selected by renowned sports photographer Delly Carr and the prize will include two tickets to a 2010 South Africa World Cup game, a Sony Alpha DSLR camera and lens plus the opportunity to a photographer in a Sony digital campaign.

The Sony World Photography Awards is supported by the World Photographic Academy. It includes nearly 100 of the world’s leading photographers including Elliott Erwitt, Mary-Ellen Mark, Susan Meiselas, Bruce Davidson and Tom Stoddart; gallery owners; representatives of international photo agencies; international Guilds; photo editors; critics and publishers. The judging panel for the competition will comprise of members of the World Photographic Academy and will be announced later this year.

Key dates

2009

2010

Categories

Professional categories are:

• Architecture
• Arts and Entertainment
• Advertising
• Conceptual and Constructed
• Contemporary Issues
• Current Affairs
• Fashion
• Landscape
• Music
• Natural History
• Portraiture
• Sport

Amateur categories are:

• Architecture
• Conceptual & Constructed
• Documentary
• Fashion
• Landscape
• Music
• Natural History
• Portraiture
• Sport

For further information about the awards and to enter the competition please visit:

www.worldphotographyawards.org

American photographer David Zimmerman wins L’Iris D’Or Award, 2009 Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year.

“a unique vision of the beauty, poetry, and power possible in great landscape photography” (Mary Ellen Mark, 2009 Judging Committee)

David Zimmerman has been announced as the winner of the coveted L’Iris D’Or Award, the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. Zimmerman received the award at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards Gala ceremony in Cannes, France on Thursday 16 April.

► Visit the 2009 Iris d'Or album

The American photographer’s entry in the Landscape category beat off stiff competition from some of the world’s finest photographers to win the esteemed title, accompanied by a $25, 000 cash prize along with Sony camera equipment. His winning landscape series ‘Desert’ hauntingly depicts the American southwest desert environment as a fragile ecosystem.

Zimmerman said: “My documentation of these remarkable deserts throughout Arizona, New Mexico, California and Nevada continues in an effort to influence preservation through public awareness, opinion and action.” On the announcement of his award, Zimmerman said: “I am thrilled beyond belief, and I want to thank you for this award. There was some wonderful work from some wonderful photographers… I hope this work continues, to make us feel, think and laugh, and I share this award with all the photographers doing terrific work out there.”

The Honorary Judging Committee comprised 12 specially selected World Photography Awards Academy members.

On behalf of the Honorary Judging Committee, Bruce Davidson said: “We live in an era of environmental awareness. It is also an era of the image. Both can coexist to give us a sharper picture of the use and abuse of our deep oceans and beloved terra firma, which is far more at risk than we admit or know. Both image and meaning coincide in the imagery of photographer David Zimmerman. In his sensuous sharp focus, we become more aware of where we are as humans in the drifting sands of time.”

Fellow Judge, Zelda Cheatle, added: “I am very happy that these desert landscapes won overall as they represent skill in photography, an awareness of the environment and reach beyond mere pictures of land and sky.”

Zimmerman received his award from Fujio Nishida, President of Sony Europe at the glittering awards ceremony in Palais des Festivals in front of an audience of VIPs and industry leaders. The eleven other professional category 2009 winners also collected their awards at the ceremony. Vincent Foong, from Singapore, was announced as the Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year for his image in the Natural History category. Neal Kartik and Pranab Kumar Aich, from India, was awarded the 2009 Student Award.

Another major announcement on the night was the winner of the new Prince’s Rainforest Project (PRP) Award. Spanish professional photographer Daniel Beltrá received the prize which includes a fully-funded project to document the rainforests of the world. In a video message at the awards night, HRH The Prince of Wales, said: “Photographic imagery can tell a compelling story about the truth of the situation and, the truth is, if we lose the fight against tropical deforestation, then we lose the fight against climate change.”

The final presentation of the evening went to the acclaimed French photographer and former President of Magnum Photos, Marc Riboud, winner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. Riboud was presented his award by acclaimed photographer Elliott Erwitt and received a standing ovation from the audience of over 600 guests.

Astrid Merget, Event Director of Sony World Photography Awards, said: “We are exceptionally proud of the quality of this year's winners who all demonstrate photography's enduring power as a relevant and vital medium. The Sony World Photography Awards continues to grow and has become much more than an awards programme. Schemes such as the Student Focus initiative, the Global Tour and our week-long festival in Cannes, offer a celebration of photography and give an important platform for the international photographic community to come together to share their experiences and skills.”

“We are truly honoured to be part of this impressive showcase of photographic talent,” commented Yoshiyuki Nogami, Vice President of Digital Imaging at Sony Europe. “We would like to congratulate all the deserved winners and look forward to offering our continued support to this inspiring event.”

* update * professional winning images are now online

Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Winners announced

The professional finalists and amateur winners of the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards were announced on Tuesday 17 March.

Each of the photographers on the list will be exhibited and honoured at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony at the prestigious Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on Thursday 16 April. Of the 12 professional category winners, one photographer will be the recipient of the L’Iris D’Or, the Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. On the night they will be awarded $25,000 along with Sony camera equipment. The winning amateur photographer, selected from the eight category finalists, will receive a $5,000 cash prize and Sony camera equipment.

The Sony World Photography Awards aim to promote the work of photographers worldwide. As one of the main prizes, the professional category finalists and amateur category winners will be showcased in the Winners’ Exhibition inside the Rotonde Lerins which takes place alongside the Festival, a week-long celebration of photography. This winner’s exhibition will then be adapted for the 2009/2010 Global Tour, which exhibits throughout leading galleries and cities around the world.

On behalf of the Honorary Judging Committee Zelda Cheatle said: “It has been a joy to work with my fellow judges. We were most diligent in being fair, discussions were fruitful, and every entrant was given a serious viewing. It was an eye opener to see entries from all over the globe, of every standard from the most amateur of approaches to the sophisticated and experienced professional. It is with great pleasure that we present this year’s Sony World Photography Award winners.”

Astrid Merget, Event Director, adds: “Photography is a powerful medium that documents current social, political, environmental and cultural affairs. It has the ability to educate, inform, motivate, entertain, change views or simply share cultural and social trends. This year’s finalists beautifully highlight the ability of the still image to do all of this and more.”

Yoshiyuki Nogami, Vice President of Digital Imaging at Sony Europe, commented: “We’ve been honoured to once again lend our full support to this unique global showcase for professional and amateur photography talent and have been impressed by the inspiring diversity and quality of this year’s entries.”

Professional finalists

Photojournalism and Documentary

Current affairs

Winner : Wojciech Grzedzinski (Poland)

© Wojciech Grzedzinski, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

2nd place : Dominic Nahr (France)

3rd place : Hui min Kuang (China)

Sport

Winner : Julian Abram Wainwright (Canada)

© Julian Abram Wainwright, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

2nd place : Salvi Danés Vernedas (Spain)

3rd place : Li Fan (China)

Contemporary issues

Winner : Giulio Di Sturco (Italy)

© Giulio Di Sturco, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

2nd place : Kosuke Okahara (Japan)

3rd place : Massimo Mastrorillo (Italy)

Amateur winners

Photojournalism and Documentary / Sport

Lorenz Holder (Germany)

© Lorenz Holder, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Commercial / Fashion

Christo Stankulov (France)

© Christo Stankulov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Commercial / Music

Josef Hinterleitner (Austria)

© Josef Hinterleitner, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Fine Art / Portraiture

Claire Martin (Australia)

© Claire Martin, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Fine Art / Conceptual & Constructed

Vladimir Melnik (Russia)

© Vladimir Melnik, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Fine Art / Natural History

Vincent Foong (Singapore)

© Vincent Foong, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Fine Art / Landscape

Giuseppe Parisi (Italy)

© Giuseppe Parisi, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

Fine Art / Architecture

David Watts (UK)

© David Watts, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009

The Honorary Judging Committee

Photojournalism and Documentary: Sue Steward, photography critic (UK); Jurgen Schadeberg, photographer (Germany); Adrian Evans, Director, Panos Pictures (UK) and Bruce Davidson, photographer (USA)

Commercial: Mark George, photographic agent (UK); Arnaud Adida, Founder Acte 2 Agence and Acte 2 Gallery (France); Gered Mankowitz, photographer (UK), and Grazia Neri, Founder and President of Grazia Neri Photo Agency (Italy)

Fine Art: Zelda Cheatle, portfolio manager and curator (UK); Mary-Ellen Mark, photographer (USA); Sarah Moon, photographer (France), and Philippe Garner, International Head of Photographs at Christie’s (UK)

Awards ceremony

The Sony World Photography Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner take place at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France on Thursday 16 April. Another major announcement on the night is the winner of the Prince’s Rainforest Project (PRP) Award. The prize for the winning photographer is a fully-funded project to document the rainforests of the world. The final presentation will go to the acclaimed French photographer, Marc Riboud, winner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Shortlisted images for the 2009 Amateur competition are now online.

Play with us, have you say!

For each category, vote for your favorite photo adding this comment: "My choice" or "My vote"... We will count your votes and compare the result with the official one. A PRO account will be given to ipernity members whose choice will match the Judging Committee judgment.

About the SWPA 2009 Amateur competition

The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international, welcoming people from across the globe to submit their photographs into an exciting amateur competition, which is run alongside the Professional Awards.

Amateur photographers have the opportunity to be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the most sought after prizes in the competition: The Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

Each photographer may submit up to a total of 3 photographs into the competition for free. The 3 photographs can be submitted into any one amateur category or spread across two - three different categories.

The Judging Process: images will go through various pre-selection rounds by SWPA officially selected 2009 Pre-Selection Committee, iStock.

A shortlist of top ten amateur photographers per category was announced on 24th of February, 2009.

The 8 Category Winners, will be showcased as part of the official 2009 Finalists exhibitions in Cannes and announced to the worldwide press as Sony World Photography Awards Category Winners on 17th of March, 2009. These winners will also have the opportunity to be part of an annual SWPA Global Tour and showcased on the SWPA website for all of 2009.

One grand prize winner will be selected from the 8 category winners by the 2009 Judging Committee and be awarded The Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

► Official website

Welcome to the 2009 World Photography Awards Festival programme.

For only 20 Euros, general festival passes give you access to all of the events and exhibitions listed below, unless otherwise specified, as well as special discounts through our ’09 Festival Partners, which include Cannes hotels, restaurants, boutiques, FNAC, and many more to announce soon. Festival Passes can be purchased here.

Please check back regularly as new exhibitions, partners and events are continually being added to the festival programme.

	Exhibitions and Tours Bruce Davidson – Central Park This classic and celebrated exhibition explores the relationship between people and a park where the legs and arms are an extension of the root system themselves and where we are all part of complex hydrocarbons. I offer this exhibition as a way to look at life and ourselves. Featuring a private tour with Bruce Davidson
	Cedric Delsaux – Nous Resterons sur Terre / Here to Stay A collection of 15 large format images, uniquely framed, documenting the landscapes of our world and intended to deliver an important message. Celebrated French photographer, Cedric Delsaux takes us on a poetic journey around the world, discovering the most precious and symbolic places of our modern world. Featuring a private tour with Cedric Delsaux
	Stuart Franklin - ‘Footprint: Our Landscape in Flux’ From his newest project and book, acclaimed Magnum photographer Stuart Franklin, showcases a collection of images depicting the diverse landscapes of Europe. The exhibition provides a stunning visual documentation of Europe in the middle of a growing crisis. Featuring a private tour with Stuart Franklin
	Brent Stirton – Gorilla Killings, Virunga. Conservation Rangers from an Anti-Poaching unit and locals evacuate the bodies of four Mountain Gorillas killed in mysterious circumstances in the park, Virunga National Park, Eastern Congo, 24 July 2007. The motivation for the killing is not known but it is suspected that there are political motivations, as the local illegal Charcoal industry clashes with conservation efforts. Featuring a private tour with Brent Stirton
	Lifetime Achievement Award Exhibition The Sony World Photography Awards pays homage to one very special and widely celebrated French photographer, Marc Riboud. A beautifully curated retrospective of his life’s work, showing the most iconic shots as well as rarely and even never before seen images from Riboud’s collection. Curated by widely respected industry figure, and Marc’s personal friend, Mr. Alain Genestar. Featuring a private tour with Marc Riboud and Alain Genestar.
	Vanessa Winship Winner of the 2008 SWPA L’Iris D’Or, Vanessa Winship showcases a new collection from Georgia. Featuring a private tour with Vanessa Winship
	A Student Focus on the World’s Environment A powerful outdoor illustration of the global change and rapid deterioration of our earth’s environment, as seen by a student generation. This stunning outdoor exhibition is set to line the famous Croisette in Cannes and will be supported by a special evening screening of more than 120 images taken by students from 60 countries around the world.
	Sony World Photography Awards 2009 Professional Finalists A collection of 36 photographers and nearly 300 images provide a visual journey through three major photographic genres: Fine Art, Photojournalism & Documentary and Commercial. Curated by: Zelda Cheatle, Mark George, Philippe Garner and Sue Steward. Featuring private tours with each of the 12 winning photographers attending the awards and festival
	Sony World Photography Awards 2009 Amateur Finalists A collection of eight newly discovered photographers from around the world showcase their best in Fashion, Sport, Architecture, Landscape, Natural History, Portraiture, Music and Conceptual photography. A special 9th award will pay tribute to the global celebration and beauty found within the sport of football.

The 2008 Winners Marking one of the last stops in a Global Tour, this limited selection takes a final look back at the 2008 winners. A simultaneous exhibition of the complete collection and final stop in the tour, will debut in Melbourne, Australia on the same day as the Festival @ The Sony World Photography Awards opens its doors on the 14th of April 2009.
Book Signings Meet internationally celebrated photographers who will sign many popular as well as some rare out of print editions of their published work. For times and locations, check the schedule on the festival website. Marc Riboud Sarah Moon Bruce Davidson Stuart Franklin Cedric Delsaux Mary-Ellen Mark Elliott Erwitt Jurgen Schadeberg Vanessa Winship

NEW!

The Sony World Photography Awards Book – 2009 (First Hardcover Edition)

Featuring the 2009 winners collections, Honorary Jury members commentary and a special retrospective of Marc Riboud, SWPA Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient.

Pre-order your book now. Available for pick up and purchase at the Festival from 17th April 2009.

FNAC @ The World Photography Awards Festival

The FNAC Bookstore is a unique shop created for the Festival @ The Sony World Photography Awards, carrying some of the world’s most celebrated photographers collections and hosting most of the Festival’s scheduled book signings.

Housed inside the Rotunda Riviera – the headquarters for registration and SWPA information as well as the central exhibition of the 2009 SWPA winners and the Lifetime Achievement Award collection.

Special Events & Screenings An Evening with Elliott Erwitt Celebrating the first annual Festival @ The Sony World Photography Awards, our host Elliott Erwitt will take guests on a special retrospective screening of his life and also show a sneak preview of new unseen work. Special guest, Alain Genestar, will stage an intimate conversation with Elliott, talking about the journey of life and photography reflected through the screening. This event is by invitation only / All Awards Ceremony ticket holders are automatically invited

SWPA Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony Commencing with red carpet arrivals and cocktail reception amongst the winners exhibitions, this evening will welcome over 800 VIP guests. More than 15 awards will be presented during a four course dinner. The finale presentation will go to the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Marc Riboud and the evening will end with the official after party of the 2009 Awards. Separate tickets must be purchased. Individual tickets and VIP tables available here

The official after party of The Sony World Photography Awards

This marks one of the most celebrated evenings in the world of photography. Beginning with red carpet arrivals at the Palais des Festivals for the Gala dinner and awards ceremony, all 800 VIP guests are invited to end the evening at this official after party hosted at the glamorous Palm Beach. Guests include international press, industry VIP, contemporary art, Paris and Cannes socialites and image celebrities such as Elliott Erwitt, Sarah Moon, Marc Riboud, Stuart Franklin and many more.

By Invitation only

For Professionals and those aspiring...

	Portfolio Reviews Welcoming serious photographers to apply for folio review sessions with an expert panel of agency heads, gallery owners, publishers, portfolio managers and critics. Confirmed industry experts include: Grazia Neri, Aidan Sullivan, Mark George, Andrew Sanigar, Stephen Cohen, Zelda Cheatle, Adrian Evans, Arnaud Adida, Alain Genestar and more to be announced. To view biographies and titles of all confirmed panel members, click here. To receive application form, please email your request to: folios@worldphotographyawards.org An extra charge applies / not part of general Festival Passes
	The World of Book Publishing – An expert discussion Inviting both pros and aspiring pros to partake in this informal talk amongst heavyweights in the industry. Publishing a book is the ultimate calling card for any photographer... join Magnum Photos President and photographer - Stuart Franklin; world renowned snapper and Magnum Photos member- Elliott Erwitt; Thames & Hudson Commissioning Editor - Andrew Sanigar and teNeues Publisher and President – Hendrik teNeues, who will all be joined by a legal expert in copyright laws and publishing deals to discuss the ins and outs of the publishing world, share personal experiences and answer questions from the public.
	Student Focus 60 Universities from 60 different countries around the world have been invited to participate in this unique initiative created by the World Photography Awards and sponsored by Sony. The winners of the first round of the competition will attend Cannes for a series of workshops, meetings with renowned photographers and a final competition to win the grand prize awarded to one University by Sony. Institutions from around Europe are also invited to apply for a programme inviting all photography students to attend the Festival @ The Sony World Photography Awards. For more information, email abi@worldphotographyawards.org All students 14 – 18 years old, receive Student passes at 50% off and those under 14 get in Free.

General Information: Your Festival Passes will be available for pick up under your name, from 11am on the 14th of April at the Rotonde Riviera – the Festival and Sony World Photography Awards headquarters. Valid ID will be required to retrieve all passes. Once purchased, you will also receive a confirmation email with further details.

To purchase your passes now, click here.

Professional photographers are urged to register here, so that we may share valuable information with you only available for those serious about the image industry.