“Mount Elbrus” by Sergey Savenko, Russian Federation, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
The best place with a view of Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain peak in Russia and Europe, included in the list of the highest peaks of the world “Seven Peaks”.
From a pool of over 190,000 photographs, the Sony World Photography Awards have selected one standout image to represent each nation in 2020. The National Awards are a way for the contest to showcase talent from the 63 countries that submitted work to this prestigious photography contest. From incredible landscapes to touching portraits to memorable wildlife photography, each winner represents a glimpse into the global photography talent pool.
The 2020 competition proved to be the most competitive yet, with more photographs entered than ever before. This makes the victory of each photographer even more impressive, as they carry the flag for their nation. Each winner will have their work showcased at the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House in London.
Many photographers won for images that highlight their nation and its history. Sergey Savenko, who was the top photographer for the Russian Federation, submitted a dramatic image enhanced by Russia's highest mountain. His blend of contemporary fashion and a classic landscape made an unforgettable combination. Serbia's Jelena Jankovic won for her portrait of a girl dressed in a traditional national costume and Brazil's Matheus Leite Ferreira took top prize for his metaphor about Brazil's complicated history with slavery.
Other photographers strayed far from their homes to take the winning shot. Portuguese photographer Antonio Bernardino Coelho won for his crisp depiction of Dubai's skyline, while an encounter with a boy in the Solomon Islands gave Korea's Hwanhee Kim his winning photograph. From big, sweeping landscapes to small moments between humans and animals, the winning photos are a cross-section of 2020's top photography and a great appetizer as we await the grand prize winners of the Professional and Open Competitions.
Check out more national winners from the Sony World Photography Awards 2020.
“Sunset” by Atanas Chulev, Bulgaria, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
The photo was taken in one of the excavated tunnels and galleries during the First World War. Most of them can be seen on Via Ferrata De Luca-Innerkofler, but it is advisable to go with the Via Ferrata kit.
“Horse Motion” by Abbas Alkhamis, Saudi Arabia, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards.
A horse breeder plays a horse in one of the stables of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
“Light Shadow and the Guards” by F. Dilek Uyar, Turkey, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
From the hard and dusty journey of sheep herd in Bitlis Turkey. I went to Bitlis to take photos in that city and take this in that period. Sheep has a great impartance in Bitlis. It was really hard to take these photos. Sheep have great importance in Bitlis. This photo is like a pastoral symphony.
“Dance and urbex” by Alejandro Cifuentes, Chile, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Ballet dancer inside an old building.
“Dubai” by Antonio Bernardino Coelho, Portugal, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Based on an image of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper and surrounding skyline in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this still life was made out of staples of various sizes. The staples were positioned on black glass with a black background and lit via three independent sources.
“Couple” by Jose Luis Ruiz Jimenez, Spain, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Gannets on the steep cliffs of the Saltee Islands in Ireland. In June, These birds are in this place during the breeding season. This behavior is very common during this time.
“Spread'em” by Marcus Westberg, Sweden, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
I had spent several days in a hide in Onguma Private Reserve, near Etosha, Namibia, initially hoping to see elephants or big cats, but enjoying all the visitors that came to the waterhole nearby. I knew if I was patient enough I would have a good chance of photographing giraffes as they came in to drink, but I never imagined any of them would squeeze in between the hide and the waterhole! This presented me with a different perspective than I had envisioned. Patience and a willingness to sit quietly in nature is often reward in itself – although in this case, I was delighted to leave with an image like this.
“Drying Tea” by Tran Tuan, Vietnam, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Workers in Moc Chau and Son La in Vietnam spread green tea leaves out to dry – this is the first stage of oolong tea production.
“The world on your shoulders” by Sofia Jern, Finland, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
The photograph is taken in Kajiado district of Kenya in August 2019. In a time where modern values, such as education, challenge the traditional customs of the Maasai people, Margret Koitangkei Nkalo is determined to choose education and not being given in marriage. When asked how Margret Koitangkei Nkalo would represent her people, she attired her traditional jewelry and looks calmly into the camera. It's important that indigenous peoples get to choose how they represent themselves – it is not for the world to define who they are, the choice should always be theirs.
“Dreamy Mountains” by Karem Apaza Lopez, Peru, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
It was impossible for my senses to ignore the wonder of the Huangshan mountains as if they were posing for my lens and allowing me to capture their splendor.
That sunset showed me a beautiful orange light and let me see many viewpoints, endless stairs, bridges to cross from one mountain to another.
“The Game of Shadows” by Jacek Patora, Poland, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
This image was taken a few days after 2019's New Year's Eve in Lisbon, Portugal.
I always wanted to take a photograph of this famous bridge covered in fog, and that day turned out to be perfect. I took this shot as I was astonished by the shapes created by the light and shadows, the perfect lines and people's silhouettes. Lisbon is famous for it's incredible light, and advection fogs like that one are a common sight there. They occur when moist air passes over a cool surface of the river Tagus, creating this breathtaking sight.
“A boy on a raft” by Hwanhee Kim, Korea (Republic of), 2nd Place, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
I met a boy in Solomon Island in September 2019. It was an evening with heavy rain and strong wind, and Jason was out in the sea to greet us strangers who visit the island from time to time. We barter pen, notes, with their fresh fruit from the island, and they also present their wood-carved ocean creatures for sale. Although the weather was a little unfriendly, he seemed happy to meet some new faces.
“Video to Jacks” by Kam Moon Lai, Hong Kong, 2nd Place, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
The photo was taken at Sipadan on 8-9-2019. I saw a School of Jack fishes swimming towards to the diver who was taking video for them. At such a moment I took this photo.
“KOLO” by Jelena Jankovic, Serbia, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
This is Maja. She is a dancer and a singer of Ensemble KOLO.
Maja is dressed in one of the many traditional costumes that she wears while she performs on stage. The paint on her face is one of the colors associated with Serbian tradition.
All the performers of Ensemble KOLO are people whose job is to preserve Serbian tradition through music, song, and dance. In fact, the main mission of Ensemble KOLO is to collect, adapt and perform Serbian folk dances and songs. With this diverse repertoire, Ensemble travels around the world and represents the rich culture of its country.
“Afrocentrípeta” by Matheus Leite Ferreira, Brazil, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
This work illustrates the narrative of union between black peoples, who were trafficked and enslaved in Brazil for three centuries.
It is a portrait of the symbiosis and metamorphosis, which occurred here in Brazil, between the black people of the most different regions and cultures of Africa.
Despite all the cuts and lashes, there is an afro-centripetal force that changes us, but also keeps our ancestral ligature.
“I'm Here” by Will Venter, South Africa, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
This water buffalo peeked out at us from the dense foliage. It had a look as though it wanted us to help it. So many people around the world rely on these amazing creatures for survival, and yet few help to protect its natural environment.
“funfair.jpg” by Wolfgang Wiesen, Germany, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Multi-exposure of people on a chairoplane.
“DJI_0563 完成 .jpg” by Tooru Iijima, Japan, 1st Place, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
“Alien Beach” by Qiyi Chen, China, 3rd Place, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Las Salinas de Torrevieja, a pink Lake in Spain. A large number of algae make the lake water pink, while high salt content makes the beach white. Looking from a high place, you will wonder if we are still on the earth?
“Attention” by Yung-sen Wu, Taiwan, 2nd Place, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Sea lions are related to walruses and seals. Together with the fur seals, they constitute the family Otariidae, collectively known as eared seals. Until recently, sea lions were grouped under a single subfamily called Otariinae, whereas fur seals were grouped in the subfamily Arcocephalinae. This division was based on the most prominent common feature shared by the fur seals and absent in the sea lions, namely the dense underfur characteristic of the former.
“The Look” by Kristiina Tammik, Estonia, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever retrieving a duck to the hunter.
“Standing on the edge of the Baltic sea coast” by Andrius Aleksandravičius, Lithuania, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
It was a very cold and windy winter day. I really enjoy visiting the sea during the off-season. The empty beach covered with snow, the sea is not frozen but looks like sorbet ice-cream. And the sound is magical. Lithuania has only 90km of the Baltic Sea coast.
This photo was taken in Smiltyne beach near Klaipeda, Lithuania. It‘s a unique part of my country – the Curonian Spit National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast.
“Ring of Frost” by Ales Krivec, Slovenia, Winner, National Awards, 2020 Sony World Photography Awards
Fog and snow particles created an interesting glow around the tree.
