Zenande, Sinawe, Zinathi and Buhle at Sea Point Pavilion, Cape Town, by the British photographer Michelle Sank. A group of teenagers at the swimming pool depict how the city has changed since the end of apartheid. Sank, who was born in South Africa, said: “My strongest memories are of Sea Point Promenade and the Pavilion swimming pool, although due to apartheid it was only for the privileged white population. Returning in 2023 I was again drawn to these spaces where little seems to have changed in terms of structure and recreation, but they now celebrate cultural and social diversity”

MICHELLE SANK/SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

See our selection of the best entries into the Sony World Photography Awards 2024. This year’s Open competition was judged by Daniel Blochwitz, a curator at the Foto Festival in Lenzburg, Switzerland.

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The World Photography Organisation has unveiled the category winners and shortlist for the Open competition of the esteemed Sony World Photography Awards 2024, which showcases the best single images from around the world.

Among them, Ana Skobe from Slovenia presents “Falling Out of Time,” capturing the elegance of a lighthouse against a dusk sky, and Ian Ford of the UK presents “Caiman Crunch,” a gripping moment of a jaguar attacking a caiman crocodile.

A staggering 395,000 images were submitted from more than 220 countries and territories for consideration in the competition. 

Explore our photo galleries featuring the winners in each of the ten categories, ranging from architecture, lifestyle, portraiture, travel, wildlife and the natural world, alongside a selection of our favourite images that made it to the shortlist.

Winner’s gallery

The ultimate winner of the prestigious Open competition will be revealed during the Awards’ grand ceremony in London on 18 April. 

Shortlist favourites

The winning and shortlisted images will be showcased as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition at Somerset House in London from 19 April to 6 May 2024 and will then travel to different locations.

Chuck Liddy, who worked for 26 years for The News & Observer, died Sunday after an illness, the newspaper reported. He was 69.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at Clements Funeral Home in Durham.

Liddy was known for sports photography, and the Duke Blue Devils honored him upon his retirement with an autographed basketball.

Photographer, Dunice Harrell, starts the Gift of a Lifetime program for high school seniors.

DALLAS — When all the hard work is done, you finally get the reward. 

“Just to see that you’re getting closer and closer to graduation, it’s really….really, really, really like…almost there. Just wait,” said Jocelyn Racio, a Garland High School senior.

While waiting can be hard to do, Racio reflected on the sacrifices her parents made to get her to a prized senior moment: graduation photos. 

“They left the family back in Mexico. The story is really touching to me because they want a better life for their children,” Racio said.

It is a desire that pushes Racio even through her most trying times. In September, her dad had surgery to have his toe amputated from diabetes. 

“He lost his job and we really struggled financially,” Racio said. It really touched me because I really wanted to be strong for them and keep going to school and keep reminding myself that they’re the reason why I’m here.”

It is a reason that also touched photographer, Dunice Harrell, founder of Dunice Harrell Photography. Last year, she started the program, G.O.A.L. It stands for “The Gift of a Lifetime.”

“I found out that the mainstream photography companies were charging anywhere from $500 to $2,000 for senior portraits,” said Harrell. “I realized that there were people out there who really could not afford photography sessions.”

Through her program, Harrell provides free senior photos to Dallas/Fort Worth students facing financial challenges such as Racio. 

“Everybody, I felt like regardless of their financial circumstances, they deserve a senior portrait. It’s their first major milestone in their life that they’re achieving on their own, and that should be celebrated,” said Harrell. “This photograph, I want it to represent that you are great. There is a light in you, so when you look at this photograph regardless of what you go through, you will see that.”

It is a memory Harrell provides to students that is more than just a photo. 

“It’s a gift of a lifetime,” said Racio.

She said her new success is also a gift to her mother who came to her senior photoshoot. 

“She never really tags along because she’s always with my dad,” said Racio who is the youngest of her siblings to graduate.

“I think we all have accomplished that for them,” said Racio. “It’s just. I’m sorry…I like telling them that I made it.” 

It is a true gift given with absolute gratefulness and filled with pride.

Harrell is looking for support for funding, studio space and more photographers. If you are interested, click here.

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Young shutterbugs of San Antonio have a shot at glory as the Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas rolls out its annual Picture Your World Nature Photography Exhibition. According to a recent announcement, the event beckons kids and teens, 8 to 18, to submit a trio of nature-inspired snaps for a chance to make it big in a juried showcase of talent.

The Witte Museum is gearing up to serve as a canvas for fresh photographic finesse this spring, and none other than local camera wizard Michael Nye is on board to judge, sifting through entries to pick out 30 stellar shots that’ll make the cut. Participants are split into two brackets – the youngins from 8 to 12 and the older bunch 13 to18, each category spotlighting three top dogs alongside a dozen honorable mentions, kids these days with their keen eyes for snapping anything from untamed wildlife, people basking in nature, artistic outdoorsy shots, to architectonic wonders amidst Mother Earth’s creations.

Come May 15, Trinity University will be buzzing with talent from 6 in the evening to 7:30, when winners will bask in the limelight during an exclusive ceremony flaunting their finest work. What’s more, each top-tier photo pro in the making will pocket some cash – we’re talking $300 for first place, $200 for second, and a cool hundred for the third spot in both age groups.

Aspiring photographers keen on putting their lenses to the test must hustle, with the April 10 deadline creeping close, 5 p.m. sharp to be precise. Interested youths can toss their hats in the ring by hitting up greensatx.org/exhibition and filling out the requisite form, this according to FOX San Antonio. So, time’s ticking, and the chase for the perfect shot in San Antonio’s lush landscapes is on – may the best young photographer win.

How two renowned photographers are defying African stereotypes

Ethiopian photographer Aida Muluneh is inspiring the next generation of visual storytellers, while South African Trevor Stuurman hopes to uplift young creative minds by curating their work through physical and digital platforms.

Like many photographers around the world, I watch a lot of YouTube. Whether it’s for inspiration, gear reviews, news, or beautiful cinematics, YouTube has changed the photography world. But should you start your own channel? Join me as I discuss some of the good reasons you should.

There are a lot of benefits to having your own YouTube channel for photography, and I am sure there are probably some downsides too, but I feel that the benefits can far outweigh the negatives here. Let’s take a look at some great benefits!

Global Reach

The numbers greatly vary depending on the source, but according to Wikipedia, YouTube has 2.5 billion users. That is a lot of potential viewers which your content could reach! Of course, there are lots of variables to consider such as great titles, tags, and a great thumbnail to attract as many of those viewers as possible, but the possibilities are endless.

With global reach, comes great opportunity! If you are fortunate enough to publish great content, which gets picked up by the masses, this could lead to amazing opportunities such as sponsorships, ambassadorships, more clients, trips, and more.

Major companies are always looking for great collaborators or ambassadors, with YouTube they can watch you, see what type of persona you have, and what type of content you produce. Consider YouTube almost like a job interview, put on your best performance and see where it takes you.

We have all seen the photographers who get invited to amazing photography experiences such as trips around the world, the best gear, and brand deals. If you wish that was you, then all you can do is give it a go yourself. I know I get a little jealous seeing some of the amazing things YouTubers get for free, whilst I am still working the daily grind.

On the other side are potential clients. If you are a wedding photographer such as Taylor Jackson, for example, you could record behind the scenes on certain wedding shoots (real or staged) and use that as an opportunity to attract new couples who are looking for a photographer. Sometimes people want to see more than a website, or Instagram page. Using YouTube in this way, can help you connect with potential clients in a far more personal way.

Behind the Scenes

One very popular format for photographers on YouTube is to show the behind the scenes of capturing their favorite images. If we take landscape photographers, for example, they will often take you with them on their adventures to places all over the world, and will talk you through exactly what they are doing while they are taking the photo.

Seeing the final image being created in real time can have so many benefits, especially now with the rise of artificial intelligence. Have you ever taken a photo, put it on social media, and had people say it was fake? I have!

In July 2020, we had the amazing Comet Neowise in our skies at night and I ventured out at 2 a.m. in the morning to capture a shot of the Comet over the Liverpool waterfront. The image went viral, and sadly because of that, I had quite a few people being a bit mean and saying the image was fake. Fortunately for me, I always keep the raw files from every shoot but filming the behind-the-scenes experience at the same time can cut a lot of that negativity out if they choose to watch it.

With any negativity, it is important to not take it to heart, but sometimes you will. I did, but I knew how to fight my corner and prove the image was real. Just like an old math exam from school, it is great to show your work.

With artificial intelligence becoming a major product now, recording behind-the-scenes footage could become very beneficial to you. This can absolutely help separate you from some of the others in the marketplace.

Meet New People

When I was publishing regular YouTube content about photography, I had the opportunity to meet lots of interesting and like-minded photographers/creators. I remember one subscriber followed me due to some Icelandic content I published and they then followed my Instagram, eventually, we got talking and became online friends. A couple of years later, we both were in Iceland at the same time and we managed to meet up and photograph the northern lights together. It was an amazing experience, and without YouTube, I never would have met this person.

Of course, you can have the same experience with any social media channel but the more you have, the more potential there is to meet new people and audiences.

Confidence

In a recent article, I discussed how to push your limits as an introverted photographer, YouTube is certainly another avenue you can take to help build your own confidence, especially when it comes to public speaking. 

Whether you are out and about vlogging, recording behind-the-scenes footage in front of general members of the public, or connecting with your audience via replying to comments, messages, etc., then YouTube is a great opportunity to gradually become more comfortable with people.

As I touched on previously, with any social media, there is a chance you will receive some negative comments, and it is important not to let them bother you. You can delete them or report them if they are bad; you do not have to take being bullied!

In this online world we live in now, sadly there are trolls, but the vast majority of viewers are absolutely lovely and appreciative of the efforts you put in. Never let these trolls phase you, just focus on the story that you want to tell with your content and enjoy the experience; this is when you will gain confidence and it can really pay dividends in your life.

Added Extras

YouTube can be an incredible way to upsell your own products and services. Do you sell prints or run photography workshops locally or around the world? If you can grow your YouTube channel, you could sell even more prints or spaces on your workshops, or even Lightroom presets.

Go for it!

Summary

By no means is this an exhaustive list of potential benefits for starting your own YouTube channel as a photographer, but I hope it could give you some good ideas on where to take your journey next. You can indeed be the creator of your own story and use YouTube to reach new audiences around the world which could benefit you in so many ways.

YouTube is not easy, and I certainly do not want to give the impression that it is. The potential, however, is massive and it cannot be ignored as it is another leg on that octopus which can lead you to new places.