Sony World Photography Awards 2013

Arts and Culture

The last time we checked in with the Sony World Photography Awards competition, they had shortlisted a few hundred photos. Just yesterday, they started to announce their first batch of winners which include all Open Competition category winners as well as the Youth Award winners. Today, we bring you these photos, the ones that have risen above the rest because they're able to capture the current trends and the poignant moments happening in our world today.

For the Open Competition, nearly 55,000 entries by amateur photographers were submitted. There were 10 diverse categories, subjects we're all familiar with, like Architecture and Arts and Culture, as well as ones we wouldn't quite expect, like Split Second and Smile.

“Amateurs constantly amaze me,” says Damien Demolder, Presiding Chair of Jury for the Open Competition and Editor of Amateur Photographer magazine, “not only with their determination, their passion and their internal drive, but also with the astonishing quality they are capable of achieving.”

In the Youth Award, photographers aged 19 and under submitted their best shots. Here, the competition uncovered the next generation of photography talent. The young, talented and determined photographers who have both the talent and the courage to seize the moment and share their view with the world.

Now here are the Open Competition's ten category winners as well as the Youth Award winners. Professional category winners and the coveted L’Iris D’Or/ Sony World Photography Awards Professional Photographer of the Year title will be announced at a grand ceremony in April.

Above photo credit: © Gilbert Yu, Hong Kong/China, Winner, Arts and Culture, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Architecture

© Martina Biccheri, Italy, Winner, Architecture, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Enhanced

© Hoang Hiep Nguyen, Vietnam, Winner, Enhanced, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Low Light

© Elmar Akhmetov, Kazakhstan, Winner, Low Light, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Nature and Wildlife

© Krasimir Matarov, Bulgaria, Winner, Nature and Wildlife, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Panoramic

© Yeow Kwang Yeo, Singapore, Winner, Panoramic, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

People

© Hisatomi Tadahiko, Japan, Winner, People, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Smile

© Ming Hui Guan (Mac Kwan), China, Winner, Smile, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Split Second

© Matías Gálvez, Chile, Winner, Split Second, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Travel

© Manny Fajutag, Philippines, Winner, Travel, Open Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Youth Award Winner, Portraits

© Berta Vicente, Spain, Winner, Portraits, Youth Award, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Youth Award Winner, Environment

© 為碩許, Taiwan, Winner, Environment, Youth Award, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Youth Award Winner, Culture

© Alecsandra Raluca Dragoi, Romania, Winner, Culture, Youth Award, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Chicago River Turns Green for St. Patrick's Day

While some cities may offer green beer or bagels to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Chicago takes it up a notch by transforming its river into an emerald stream each year. The Windy City resumed its annual tradition this weekend, which marked the 51st time the Chicago River was dyed green since the ritual's introduction in 1962.

Though the exact formula for the solution remains a Chicago secret, it is an orange dye used to turn the blue waterways into the magnificent green river that marks St. Paddy's Day each year. Native Chicagoans and out-of-city spectators alike gather to witness the ceremonious tradition. Even this year, hundreds of thousands of people braved the low temperatures for the festivities, which included a man dressed as a leprechaun riding a water propelled Flyboard. See the festive guy in action, below.

AIPAD Photography Show

Goodyear GZ-20A Blimp

When traveling, it's typical to see the sides, the front, even the tail of an airplane, but it's not often that you get to see the details of a plane's underbelly. American photographer Jeffrey Milstein gives us this opportunity in his project, entitled Aircraft: The Jet as Art. Each machine is perfectly centered within the composition, which results in a sense of graphic symmetry and precision that is unique to the perspective. By presenting them in this way, the artist encourages his viewers to examine the beauty and form of this modern technology.

When exhibiting the photographs, Milstein produces large prints so that his viewers can almost feel the rush of air from each plane as it zips past. When documenting each plane, Milstein says, "It’s like shooting a moving duck. The planes are moving so fast, and I have only a hundredth of a second to get my shot. I have to keep the camera moving with the plane and then fire the shot exactly at the top dead center. It took a lot of practice.”

If you are interested in this project, Milstein's work will be exhibited at the AIPAD Photography Show in New York from April 4-7, 2013.

Alaska Airlines "Disneyland" Boeing 737-400

Harrier Jump Jet

America West Airlines Airbus A320-200

Citabria 7GCBC

Southwest "Shamu" Boeing 737-700

Southwest Boeing 737-700

United Airlines Boeing 757-200

USAF Learjet C-21A

America West Express Bombardier CRJ900

Paintings of Hilarious Grumpy Cats

We are always seeing funny videos of cute cats playing the piano, baffling their dog companions, and wildly chasing light reflections on the wall, but it's not often that these fuzzy little creatures are portrayed as grumpy. Until now. Based in New York, artist Aja Apa-Soura works out of her home studio to produce these vibrant paintings with a palette knife and pure, undiluted oils.

For these Grumpy Cats, thick daubs of paint cover the canvas in vibrant, textured feline portraits, some of which are blended naturally into backgrounds reminiscent of famous paintings like Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh and The Scream by Edvard Munch. Even with such extremely disgruntled expressions, these cute cats will still make you laugh.

In addition to this project, Aja also explores a variety of subjects including an extensive collection of female nudes, as well as florals, urban cityscapes, abstracts, and landscapes, all of which you can check out at Sagittarius Gallery on Etsy.

Titanic 2

Everyone is calling it the "return of a legend." Last year, Australian billionaire Clive Palmer revealed plans for Titanic II, a modern-day functioning replica of the original luxury liner. According to the design plan, "While every bit as luxurious as her namesake, Titanic II will have every modern amenity along with 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems." Passengers can purchase tickets and experience a journey across the ocean in a real life flash to the past, including class divisions and even costumes from the time period.

Just like the original, the accommodations are designed to match the finest restaurants and hotels on land. The plush furniture, carved oak designs, wrought iron and glass dome, and grand central staircase will mimic the grandeur of the original ship, and Palmer says, "This magnificent vessel is to be constructed in memory of the heroic people who served on the ship, the passengers who sadly shared their fate, and all those that survived the tragedy."

The vessel will take its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York in 2016 and something important to note, the new design will be extremely prepared for any emergency, equipped with 18 modern lifeboats that can hold beyond the ship’s capacity of 2,435 passengers and 900 crew. 

Inside the Painter's Studio

Jackson Pollock

When we see an artist's work, it's incredible to think about all of the details that went into the creation process, from collecting the right materials to actual physical labor of production. So, what better way to get to know an artist than to see him or her inside their own personal studio. This was exactly the thought of Brooklyn-based artist Joe Fig, and so he developed a series of miniature dioramas, entitled Inside the Painter's Studio, that show artists at work in their own studios.

One review explains, "A desire for firsthand references led Fig to approach contemporary artists for access to their studios. Armed with a camera and a self-made 'Artist's Questionnaire,' Fig began a journey through the workspaces of some of today's most exciting contemporary artists." Based on photographs and his own eye-witness, he produced 24 mixed media pieces that range in size from just 4 inches to 60 inches. The tiny details portray the personalities and work of each person and, as a result, we get a rare and tiny glimpse into the world of many famous artists including people like Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, Willem de Kooning, and Andy Warhol.

Henri Matisse

Willem de Kooning

Matthew Ritchie

Chuck Close

Ross Bleckner

Inka Essenhigh

Malcolm Morley

Brancusi

Jasper Johns

Andy Warhol

Jim Rosenquist

Will Cotton

Roy Lichtenstein

Self-Portrait