SONY

Sony World Photography Awards presents
Stories Ⅱ
Shunta Kimura/Pokiru Sawamaru/Hiroki Nose/Tomohiko Funai

The Sony World Photography Awards are a photography competition supported by Sony and first held in 2007, with the aim of contributing to the development of photographic culture.

The Awards consist of four competitions: Professional (10 categories), Open (10 categories), Youth (ages 12 to 19) and Student, and provides platforms catered to every stage and genre of photography. In addition, the Awards recognise a person or a group of people that have made a significant impact on the medium of photography through the Outstanding Contribution to Photography, as well as local photographic talents from around the globe through the National & Regional Awards. All images entered into the Open competition are automatically considered for the National & Regional Awards.

Now in its fifteenth year, the Sony World Photography Awards is devoted to promoting both established and emerging photographers and giving them the exposure, visibility and opportunities to help advance them into the next stage of their career.

Every year tens of thousands of photographers submit their best imagery to the Awards and with the vast global community viewing the work, successful photographers have benefitted from publishing deals, gallery representation and worldwide exhibitions. The aim of the Sony World Photography Awards is to facilitate the meeting of creative minds so credible, innovative and exciting work is made.

This exhibition presents the works of four photographic artists who has either won the 2022 Professional competition (Environment category) or shortlisted for the 2022 Open competition.

Shunta Kimura Profile

Sony World Photography Awards 2022, Professional competition, Environment, Winner

Born in Wakkanai, Hokkaido. Based in Tokyo, he is covering stories mainly in Africa and Asia. In Africa, he has undertaken the problem of the conflict-related sexual violence against men and sexual minorities. He is currently working on a long-term project in Bangladesh to capture the people living in the transition caused by the impacts of climate change.

Awards

Sony World Photography Awards 2022, Professional competition, Environment, Winner
International Photography Awards 2022, Professional competition, Environment, 3rd place

Pokiru Sawamaru Profile

Sony World Photography Awards 2022, Open competition, Creative, Shortlist

Photographer/Hair + Makeup Artist
Pokiru Sawamaru is the owner of “jiyume”.
He specialises in hair and makeup photography.
He is known for creating and presenting conceptual works.

Awards

International Beauty Industry Awards 2022, Best Creative Hair, 1位​
European Photography Awards 2022, People Photography - Fine Art Platinum Winner
London Photography Awards 2022, People Photography - Fine Art Platinum Winner
International Photography Awards 2021, People, Portrait 2位

Hiroki Nose Profile

Sony World Photography Awards 2022, Open competition, Motion, Shortlist

Born in 1991 in Kanagawa, Japan. Hiroki Nose started his career as a photographer with two cameras around 2015, self-taught in photography and editing using an iPhone as well as a single-lens SLR camera. In 2017, he produced several masterpieces, including "Ushinshiro Mizume Cherry Blossoms", “Autumn at Okuni Shrine", and "Irori at Tsumagojuku". He began working as a freelance photographer in 2019 using his self-taught photo editing skills and shooting style. His clients include a wide range of domestic and international clients, from major companies to tourism ministries and advertising. His works, such as the collaborative collection of LOEWE and Ghibli, Marriott International, received international media attention. He specialises in various genres of photography, including landscapes, portraits and animals. All his work is unique and distinctive in tone and style. He has won many competitions for his beautiful and fantastic style of capturing light.

Awards

Sony World Photography Awards 2022, Open competition, Motion, Shortlist
Sony World Photography Awards 2022, Japan National Awards, Shortlist
Sony World Photography Awards 2021, Open competition, Travel, Shortlist
Sony World Photography Awards 2021, Japan National Awards, 2nd Place
Tokyo Camera Club 10 Viral Photographs of 2019
EXCERIA × PHOTRAVELERS PHOTO CONTEST 2018, Gold Award

Zero Gravity (Tomohiko Funai) Profile

Sony World Photography Awards 2022, Open competition, Motion, Shortlist

Tomohiko Funai is a self-portrait, non-photoshopped levitation photographer. He was influenced by a contemporary artist named Natsumi Hayashi and her “Today's Levitation” series back in 2011. Under a concept named “Zero Gravity”, he creates the world of zero gravity and the life of the “levitator,” who has been freed from the force of gravity, through self-portrait photography.

He has been awarded by numerous photography competitions held in and out of Japan, and were featured in various media such as national television, radio, YouTube, magazines, and online articles.

What is “Zero Gravity” ?

It is a non-photoshopped, self-portrait levitation photography. With the camera on a tripod and with the use of a camera timer, he captures the moment mid-air when he looks like he is floating in the air. By inserting the “levitator” in ordinary sceneries, tourist locations, and scenic spots, he is creating extraordinary, surreal spaces.

The Sony World Photography Awards 2023 are open for entries. Deadlines for submission across the Awards' four competitions are:

Professional competition
January 13, 2023 13:00 GMT (22:00 JST)
Open competition
January 6, 2023 13:00 GMT (22:00 JST)
Youth competition
January 6, 2023 13:00 GMT (22:00 JST)
Student competition
November 30, 2022 13:00 GMT (22:00 JST)

For further information, please visit www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards

Related information: 
See Related Information on the Sony World Photography Awards and this exhibition.

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