The World Photography Organisation has announced the shortlists for the Professional, Open and Youth categories of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.
The shortlist includes six Australian photographers across six categories:
• Sandra Herd, Professional Landscape
• Adam Pretty, Professional Sport
• Ryan Pierse, Professional Sport
• Danny Cohen, Open Enhanced
• Nathan Wills, Open Travel
• Chris Round, Open Low Light
Photographers Adam Pretty and Ryan Pierse are both finalists in the Professional Sport category. Pretty for a series from the London Olympics and Pierse for a unique look at the Australian water polo team. Sandra Herd is shortlisted in the Professional Landscape category.
Three amateur photographers, Danny Cohen, Nathan Wills and Chris Round are shortlisted in the Open categories.
In a year that saw over 122,000 entries from 170 countries – the highest number of submissions in the history of the competition – the shortlist offers a unique insight into 2012 through the eyes of some of the world’s best emerging and established photography talents.
The Honorary Jury, was chaired by Catherine Chermayeff, Director of Special Projects at Magnum Photos: “I think we, the jurors, all began this process and felt overwhelmed. I am delighted to say that by day three, each group proudly presented and argued for our respective shortlists and found surprising strength in the shortlist submissions across all categories.”
Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation, adds: “The World Photography Organisation is dedicated to finding the best international contemporary photography from across the world. The shortlist is a clear indication of the exciting photography which is out there and, as we do every year, we are looking forward to presenting this collection of photographers to a global audience.”
The work of all the shortlisted photographers will be exhibited at Somerset House, London, from 26 April to 12 May as part of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. The images will also be published in the 2013 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book.
The Open and Youth category winners will be announced on 19 March. Professional category winners and the coveted L’Iris D’Or/ Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year title will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 25 April. The L’Iris D’Or winner will receive $25,000 (USD) and the Open Photographer of the Year will receive $5,000 (USD). All winners, including category winners, will receive the latest digital imaging equipment from Sony.
"The Australian Mens Olympic Waterpolo Team are photographed in an empty Bondi Icebergs pool at Bondi Beach on May 31, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. The Aussie Sharks as they are known were finalsing their preperations for the 2012 London Olympic Games when I asked them to pose in a famous ocean pool...with the twist of it being empty." – Ryan Pierse. Photo by Ryan Pierse (Getty Images), Australia, Finalist, Sport, Professional competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards. 
"Hiking and camping in El Chalten under the shadow of the glorious Mount Fitzroy, we awoke to a trail covered in fresh snow. As we hiked along the trail the low cloud obscured the mountains leaving in front of us the striking spectacle of this Patagonian forest. The colours of the leaves were glorious against the monochromatic backdrop, the fresh snow still clinging to the tree barks...it was as though we had stumbled upon the beautiful and fictitious Narnia." – Sandra Herd. Photo by Sandra Herd, Australia, Shortlist, Landscape, Professional Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.
London, England (August 05, 2012): Usain Bolt of Jamaica races ahead of Ryan Bailey of the United States, Yohan Blake of Jamaica, Justin Gatlin of the United States and Tyson Gay of the United States to win the Men's 100m Final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 5, 2012 in London, England. Photo by Adam Pretty (Getty Images), Australia, Finalist, Sport, Professional Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards. 
On a road trip in South Australia, this lone service station was the only thing visible for miles in the pitch black darkness of the desert. Photo by Chris Round, Australia, Shortlist, Low Light, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.
Polar Bear. Photo by Danny Cohen, Australia, Shortlist, Enhanced, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.
"The calm of both human and animal. The things we miss as we are preparing. My partner was getting her flippers on and I was already prepared and ready to get in so I swam out to see if I could get this shot, I could have never imagined that in a million years I would have a turtle just cruising by at the moment I stuck my head under. How blessed." – Nathan Wills. Photo by Nathan Wills, Australia, Shortlist, Travel, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.