Sony reveals overall photography winners for 2019

Italian artist Federico Borella receives the coveted Photographer of the Year title and wins $25,000

The World Photography Organisation has named the overall winners of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards. The Italian artist Federico Borella was presented with the title Photographer of the Year for his series Five Degrees.

Borella’s work was praised by the jury for its “sensitivity, technical excellence and artistry in bringing to light a global concern”, according to Sony. It focuses on male suicide in the farming community of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. The area is currently facing the worst drought in 140 years.

He submitted his series in the Professional competition and was selected from the ten category winners. Sony also announced the winners of four other categories: Open (best single image), Youth and Student competitions, and Outstanding Contribution to Photography.

Winning photographs addressing different issues across the globe

This year’s winners were honoured for giving expression and interpretation to the lives and issues faced across the globe.

Mike Trow, chair of the Professional competition commented that this year’s submissions “provoked a lot of debate and interest amongst the jury” with works “pushing the boundaries of photography and challenging the perceptions and expectations of the audience.”

All winners received Sony digital imaging equipment and their work will feature in the winners’ book. Moreover, their work will be shown as part of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House in London.

This year’s Sony awards saw a record 326,997 submissions from 195 countries and territories from across the globe. They are one of the largest and most prestigious photography competitions in the world.

The 2020 Sony World Photography Awards opens for submissions 1 June 2019.