A fox has shown the snow. A mother elephant tries to help her record a muddy riverbank. A gibbon seems calm with contemplation.
The 2025 Sony World Photography Awards has announced its 10 category winners and shortlist -honores for the Open Competition. “The open competition celebrates the ability of an individual photo to capture and distilling a single moment, and to evoke a broader story,” explains a press release.
In the Natural World and Wildlife category, the highest distinctions went to a compelling image (above) of a group of polar bears gnawing at the carcass of a whale in East -greenland. The photo was recorded by Estebane Rezkallah of France.
A wild fox photographed in Gran Paradiso, Italy.
Copyright: © Ilena Fasci, Italy, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
The Open Photographer of the Year will be announced in London on April 16, 2025. Visit the winners of the Open Competition and Shortlist photos World photorganization.
Meeting a leopard is a rare and breathtaking moment. This majestic cat was photographed in Lake Nakuru, Kenya, deep in a Voortsboombos. It was initially stopped on a branch, but then ran elegantly along his huge branch and a real bucket list experience for the photographer.
Copyright: © Peter Delaney, Ireland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
This juvenile polar bear had just swam over a sea before he broke in a remote hut along the coastline of Longyearbyen, on the island of Svalbard. After he broke through the window, the bear spent some time exploring the inside, peered out the window and threw out items. The photo was taken from a small boat remotely.
Copyright: © Daniel Hannabuss, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
This squadron of pelicans was photographed from a boat on Lake Kerkini, Greece.
Copyright: © Gianni Maitan, Italy, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
This Pygmee Elephant comfort her calf, which was unable to climb the steep river bank to join the herd after they had crossed the Kinabatangan river in Borneo. A second elephant offers support from behind the baby. The herd returned to the river and went down for an hour until they found a place where the calf could leave safely.
Copyright: © Tara Keane, Ireland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
In a defensive position, this Distelmantis looks like a rock singer who performed on stage.
Copyright: © Hasan Bağlar, Cyprus, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Large blue herons like to fish at the foot of a small leaving where larger fish gather in the chicory water. Although the photographer here on many occasions recorded images of herons who catch fish, the early morning sun in this case was in exactly the right angle to illuminate the smashing water, giving the scene a different look.
Copyright: © Christopher Baker, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
With an absorbed look, this Gibbon is in a silent contemplation. Its targeted expression reveals the depth of his intelligence and the feeling of curiosity that defines this fascinating primacy.
Copyright: © Pedro Jarque Krebs, Peru, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
This lion struggled to drag a half-eaten Buffalo-carcass to a nearby Bush in Maasai Mara, Kenya. The carcass was far too heavy and forced the lion to let frequent breaks rest. This moment emphasizes the enormous effort and determination of the predator.
Copyright: © Klara Zamourilova, Czech Republic, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
A motherreushin and calf come to drink at night in the east of South Africa and create beautiful reflections in the quiet water.
Copyright: © Martin Steenhaut, Belgium, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
More Deals, Reviews and Purchase Guides