Camera
Sony World Photography Awards 2025 reveals its Photographer of the Year
Sony World Photography Awards Overall Winners
Sony’s World Photography Awards celebrated the 18th edition of its Overall Winners competition with a gala ceremony in London. Ten professional category winners received recognition for their work across multiple genres, including architecture, wildlife, portraiture, and landscape. Each winner participated in Insights, a day of industry talks, and received Sony digital imaging equipment as a prize.
British photographer Zed Nelson was named Photographer of the Year for The Anthropocene Illusion, a six-years-in-the-making documentary project examining how humans shape and simulate nature in an increasingly artificial world. He will have the opportunity to present an additional body of work at next year’s Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition.
Olivier Unia was awarded Open Photographer of the Year for his image of a traditional Moroccan equestrian performance. Micaela Vidivia Medina was awarded Student Photographer of the Year for her series about incarcerated women in Chile’s prisons. Daniel Dian-Ji Wu won Youth Photographer of the Year for a skateboarding silhouette shot at sunset in Venice Beach, California.
Acclaimed documentary photographer Susan Meiselas was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award. Sixty of her images will be featured with more than 300 total prints, including the competition’s second and third-place finalists from the World Photography Awards, at Somerset House in London from April 17th to May 5th. You can see all of the winning images on the contest website, worldphoto.org.
Photographer of the Year
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Photographer: Zed Nelson
Series title: The Anthropocene Illusion
Description: In a tiny fraction of Earth’s history, humans have altered the world beyond anything it has experienced in tens of millions of years. Scientists are calling it a new epoch: The Anthropocene – the age of human. Future geologists will find evidence in the rock strata of an unprecedented human impact on our planet, from huge concentrations of plastics to the fallout from the burning of fossil fuels, and vast deposits of concrete used to build our cities.
We are forcing animals and plants to extinction by removing their habitats, and divorcing ourselves from the land we once roamed. Yet we cannot face the true scale of our loss. Somewhere within us the desire for contact with nature remains. ‘So, while we devastate the world around us, we have become masters of a stage-managed, artificial ‘experience’ of nature – a reassuring spectacle, an illusion.’
Over six years, and across four continents, Zed Nelson has explored how we immerse ourselves in increasingly choreographed and simulated environments to mask our destructive impact on the natural world.
Camera & equipment: Hasselblad X1D, D810, Mamiya RZ67, D850
Copyright: © Zed Nelson, United Kingdom, Photographer of the Year, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Open Photographer of the Year: Motion Category
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Photographer: Olivier Unia
Series title: Tbourida La Chute
Description: Many of the photographs taken during a traditional Moroccan ‘tbourida’ show the riders firing their rifles. With this image, the photographer wanted to share another side of the event, and show how dangerous it can be when a rider is thrown from their mount.
Camera: Sony a7 IV
Copyright: © Olivier Unia, France, Open Photographer of the Year, Open Competition, Motion, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Architecture & Design
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Photographer: Ulana Switucha
Series title: The Tokyo Toilet Project
Description: The Tokyo Toilet Project is an urban redevelopment project in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan that involves the design and construction of modern public restrooms that encourages their use. The distinctive buildings are as much works of art as they are a public convenience. These images are part of a larger body of work documenting the architectural aesthetics of these structures in their urban environment.
Camera: Nikon Z7
Copyright: © Ulana Switucha, Canada, Winner, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Creative
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Photographer: Rhiannon Adam
Series title: Rhi-Entry
Description: Throughout history, 117 billion humans have gazed at the same moon, yet only 24 people – all American men – have seen its surface up close. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the artist discovered an application for the ultimate art residency: dearMoon. In 2018, Japanese billionaire and art collector Yusaku Maezawa announced a global search for eight artists to join him on a week-long lunar mission aboard SpaceX’s Starship – the first civilian mission to deep space.
The mission’s flight path would echo that of Apollo 8’s 1968 journey, which famously led astronaut Bill Anders to suggest NASA ‘should have sent poets’ to capture the sense of wonder he experienced. In 2021, Rhiannon Adam was chosen as the only female crew member from one million applicants, with the chance to achieve the seemingly impossible. For three years she immersed herself in the space industry, until, in June 2024, Maezawa abruptly canceled the mission, leaving the crew to pick up the pieces of their disrupted lives.
Camera & equipment: Polaroid SLR 680, RZ-67 pro II, Canon 5D MKIV, Wista Field, Apple Mac screenshot, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Canon EOS R
Copyright: © Rhiannon Adam, United Kingdom, Winner, Professional competition, Creative, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Documentary Projects
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Photographer: Toby Binder
Series title: Divided Youth of Belfast
Description: ‘If I had been born at the top of my street, behind the corrugated-iron border, I would have been British. Incredible to think. My whole idea of myself, the attachments made to a culture, heritage, religion, nationalism and politics are all an accident of birth. I was one street away from being born my “enemy.”’ Paul McVeigh, Belfast-born novelist.
Binder notes ‘there is hardly any other country in Europe where a past conflict is still as present in daily life as it is in Northern Ireland.’ It is not only the physical barriers – the walls and fences – but also the psychological divisions in society. For many years, Toby Binder has been documenting what it means for young people, all of whom were born after the peace agreement was signed, to grow up under this intergenerational tension in both Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods.
Camera & equipment: Leica Q2, Mamiya 645 PRO TL
Copyright: © Toby Binder, Germany, Winner, Professional competition, Documentary Projects, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Environment
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Photographer: Nicolás Garrido Huguet
Series title: Alquimia Textil
Description: Alquimia Textil is a collaborative project undertaken by Nicolás Garrido Huguet and researcher and fashion designer María Lucía Muñoz, which showcases the natural dyeing techniques practiced by the artisans of Pumaqwasin in Chinchero, Cusco, Peru. The project aims to bring visibility to, and help preserve, these ancestral dyeing practices, which demand many hours of meticulous work that is often underestimated within the textile sector.
Industrial methods are close to displacing these traditional dyeing processes completely, while climate change threatens the plants that are crucial to these practices. These photographs feature three dye types: qolle (Buddleja coriacea), a shrub with yellow-producing flowers; ch’illka (Baccharis sp.), a shrub whose leaves and stems yield ochre and green hues; and cochineal (Dactylopius coccus), an Andean insect producing reds, carmines and purples in a broad color spectrum.
Camera & equipment: EM, Epson scanner v550, Nikon Z7 II, Mamiya RB67
Copyright: © Nicolás Garrido Huguet, Peru, Winner, Professional competition, Environment, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Landscape
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Photographer: Seido Kino
Series title: The Strata of Time
Description: This project invites viewers to consider what it means for a country to grow, and the advantages and disadvantages linked to that growth, by overlaying archival photographs from the 1940s-60s within current scenes of the same location. Early in Japan’s period of rapid economic growth from 1945 to 1973, the trade-off for affluence was pollution in many parts of the country. As an island, its land and resource constraints also led to an uneven population distribution.
Camera: Nikon D850
Copyright: © Seido Kino, Japan, Winner, Professional competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Perspectives
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Photographer: Laura Pannack
Series title: The Journey Home From School
Description: Making our way home from school is a simple, nostalgic, universal activity that we can all relate to. This project explores the tumultuous public lives of young people in the gang-governed Cape Flats area of Cape Town, South Africa, where their daily commute carries the risk of death.
Using handmade, lo-fi experimental techniques, this project explores how young people have to walk to and from school avoiding the daily threat of gang crossfire. Through poetry, analogue photography, drawings, collages and cyanotypes, an intimate portrayal of adolescence amidst stark social divides is created that offers a rare insight into this confusing and challenging world.
Camera & equipment: EZ Controller, 500cm
Copyright: © Laura Pannack, United Kingdom, Winner, Professional competition, Perspectives, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Portraiture
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Photographer: Gui Christ
Series title: M’kumba
Description: M’kumba is an ongoing project that illustrates the resilience of Afro-Brazilian communities in the face of local religious intolerance. Its name derives from an ancient Kongo word for spiritual leaders, before it was distorted by local society to demean African religions. For more than 300 years, nearly 5 million African people were brought to Brazil.
They lost their freedom, and their spiritualities were persecuted by colonial ideologies. Until 1970, Afro-Brazilian religions were criminalised, and due to longstanding prejudice they still face violence – more than 2,000 attacks were reported in 2024 alone. Although 56 per cent of Brazilians are of Afro-descent, fewer than 2 per cent identify as Afro-religious due to fear of persecution.
As an Afro-religious priest in training, Gui Christ wanted to photograph a proud, young generation representing African deities and mythological tales. Through intimate imagery, this project challenges prejudice while celebrating these spiritual traditions as vital to Brazil’s cultural identity.
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Gui Christ, Brazil, Winner, Professional competition, Portraiture, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Sport
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Photographer: Chantal Pinzi
Series title: Shred the Patriarchy
Description: M’kumba is an ongoing project that illustrates the resilience of Afro-Brazilian communities in the face of local religious intolerance. Its name derives from an ancient Kongo word for spiritual leaders, before it was distorted by local society to demean African religions.
For more than 300 years, nearly 5 million African people were brought to Brazil. They lost their freedom, and their spiritualities were persecuted by colonial ideologies. Until 1970, Afro-Brazilian religions were criminalised, and due to longstanding prejudice they still face violence – more than 2,000 attacks were reported in 2024 alone. Although 56 per cent of Brazilians are of Afro-descent, fewer than 2 per cent identify as Afro-religious due to fear of persecution.
As an Afro-religious priest in training, Gui Christ wanted to photograph a proud, young generation representing African deities and mythological tales. Through intimate imagery, this project challenges prejudice while celebrating these spiritual traditions as vital to Brazil’s cultural identity.
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Chantal Pinzi, Italy, Winner, Professional competition, Sport, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Professional Category Winner: Still Life
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Photographer: Peter Franck
Series title: Still Waiting
Description: Still Waiting presents collages that capture moments of pause, of waiting. They depict the liminal space between events, a threshold where time seems to stretch, and meanings remain unfixed. The juxtaposition of objects within the space leaves room for interpretation, inviting surreal flights of thought. Everything is suspended, held in a fragile equilibrium where intervention feels imminent. Just fractions of a second away from some decisive action, the images linger in a fleeting moment of stillness, a breath before the world moves again.
Camera: N/A (unknown)
Copyright: © Peter Franck, Germany, Winner, Professional competition, Still Life, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Student Photographer of the Year
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Photographer: Micaela Valdivia Medina
Series title: The Last Day We Saw the Mountains and the Sea
Description: This project explores the complexity of female prison spaces and the people who inhabit them, from the inmates to their families. The series consists of photographs of the architecture of the prisons, the neighbourhoods they are in, and the dynamics at the visitor and family member entrances. This project was carried out at the women's penitentiary centres of San Miguel, San Joaquín and Valparaíso, between the months of March and July 2024.
Camera & equipment: Canon EOS R, iPhone 12
Copyright: © Micaela Valdivia Medina, Peru, Student Photographer of the Year, Student Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
Youth Photographer of the Year
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Photographer: Daniel Dian-Ji Wu
Image title: Eclipse of Motion
Description: Daniel Dian-Ji Wu took this photo during summer break in 2024, at Venice Beach Skatepark in LA during golden hour. The photographer captured this image of a skater mid-air, silhouetted against the sunset, expressing the raw energy of that moment. He says this image ‘made me feel a sense of passion and freedom.’
Camera & equipment: Sony a7 IV
Copyright: © Daniel Dian-Ji Wu, Taiwan, Youth Photographer of the Year, Youth Competition, Sony World Photography Awards 2025
| Photo: DPReview |
This week brought a wave of firmware updates from Sony and Nikon, targeting full-frame and APS-C models. Sony released new software for the a7C, a7 III and ZV-E10, delivering stability improvements and minor tweaks. Nikon released updates for its flagship mirrorless Z9 and the newer Z50II, aiming to refine performance and fix a few lingering bugs. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new.
Sony
a7C updates for Version 2.01 (Mac) and (Windows)
a7 III updates for Version 4.02 (Mac) and (Windows)
ZV-E10 updates for Version 2.02 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Allows the camera to display a notification when new software is available
WPA and WEP functionalities are no longer supported. - You can no longer select WPA or WEP when connecting to Wi-Fi. Please use the more secure WPA2 moving forward.
- Improves the operational stability of the camera.
- Note: This update is only available for Windows and macOS. A memory card version is not provided.
Please note: the firmware updates are identical across these three camera models.
Nikon
Z9 updates for Version 5.20 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Added support for “NX Field,” a remote shooting system for corporate users. Note: “NX Field” app for smart devices may not be available in some countries and regions.
- Renamed d14 [Display on during burst] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
- Fixed the following issues:
- Pressing the playback button after repeatedly shooting bursts would in rare cases corrupt the display of all images.
- In rare circumstances, optimal exposure could not be achieved during burst shooting after changing the exposure in mode M.
- In synchronized release, pressing the shutter-release button of the master camera halfway initiated autofocus on the remote camera with the following setting selected. ▸ [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > a6 [AF activation] > [AF-ON only]
Z50II updates for Version 1.01 (Mac) and (Windows)
- Pre-Release Capture is now available using a SmallRig SR-RG2.
- Added “русский” (Russian) to [Language] in [SETUP MENU] for Z50II cameras sold in the Middle East region.
- Renamed d13 [Display on during burst] in [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
- Fixed the following issues:
- In rare cases, the camera would stop responding when it was reconnected to SnapBridge after it was connected to Nikon Imaging Cloud while connecting to SnapBridge.
- In synchronized release, pressing the shutter-release button of the master camera halfway initiated autofocus on the remote camera with the following setting selected:
▸ [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU] > a6 [AF activation] > [AF-ON only]
That’s it for this week. Make sure to check in every Friday, from here on out, for a round-up of firmware updates on all major camera models. Have a great weekend!
The photography industry has weathered economic uncertainty, technological disruption and rising operational costs. However, according to Zenfolio’s newly released 2025 State of the Photography Industry report, conducted in partnership with other creative businesses including Format, ShootProof and Professional Photographers of America (PPA), it’s also finding strength through adaptability, community and more thoughtful business strategies.
Now in its 6th consecutive year, the report draws on insights from more than 4,500 photographers in 70 countries. North Americans accounted for 79% of the participants, while photographers from Korea and Bolivia chimed in for the first time. The findings reveal an industry in transition but not in retreat.
One of the standout trends is the return to personalized service. Photographers who conduct viewing appointments after a shoot see as much as 20% more revenue than those who rely on online delivery alone. “Clients value the personal touch,” the report notes, adding that face-to-face sessions create opportunities to upsell prints and foster long-term relationships.
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A sign of the times? Full-time, self-employed work is on the rise compared to part-time.
Copyright: © Zenfolio |
As it turns out, adaptability pays off. Photographers who expanded their service offerings by pivoting to additional genres such as corporate headshots, drone photography, newborn portraits or sporting events were often rewarded with lucrative revenue streams. The report highlights that being open to last-minute gigs and unfamiliar styles that breach one’s comfort zone is now a competitive advantage instead of a compromise.
Nevertheless, the financial pressure is real. Between 65 and 70% of photographers reported increased business costs in 2024, including equipment and insurance. Zenfolio encourages professionals to revisit their pricing strategies and delivery models. Many new photographers still rely on selling digital files, but seasoned pros continue to profit from print sales. Print credits and tiered packages are recommended methods for boosting margins.
Technological change, particularly AI, is also reshaping the industry. Rather than replacing photographers, AI tools are helping them streamline their workflows. From culling and editing to delivering final images, that efficiency frees up more time to focus on the creative vision and client service that can’t be automated.
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AI tools help with workflow so photographers can focus on other aspects of the business, especially creative vision.
Copyright: © Zenfolio |
Drone photography was introduced to the survey for the first time this year. The findings include that it is not only gaining traction but outpacing smartphone use among professional photographers. While the adoption of mirrorless cameras saw a slight dip, traditional cameras remain dominant.
Finally, the report underscores a less tangible but perhaps more critical theme: the value of community. From online forums to local peer groups, photographers who engage with one another are more likely to grow in business, confidence and creativity. State of the Photography Industry 2025 is free to view and includes helpful advice and actionable tips.
Nikon’s been on a roll this week. Following firmware updates for the Z9 and Z50II, the company released version 2.3.0 of NX Tether, its free tethered shooting software. NX Tether allows photographers and videographers to connect their Nikon camera directly to a computer for real-time control over focus, exposure, white balance and more, all while using a larger screen for improved precision.
Users can download and enhance photos on their computers, as NX Tether is compatible with Nikon’s NX Studio and third-party tools, including Adobe Lightroom and Capture One. This latest update enhances compatibility and introduces new features that streamline studio and on-location workflows. Let’s take a look at some of the updates:
- Expanded Camera Support: NX Tether 2.3.0 makes tethered shooting available for Nikon Z5II users.
- Live View Accessibility: Live view functionality is now available when connected to a Nikon Zf.
- Framing Guide Display: The addition of a framing guide in the live view window helps with precise composition, which is especially beneficial for video shoots and detailed product photography.
- Power Zoom Position Memory: Users can save and load power zoom positions on compatible models like the Z9, Z8, and Zf, for consistent framing across sessions.
- Pixel Shift Photography: Enhanced support for pixel shift photography is available on the Z8 and Zf, enabling higher-resolution imagery.
- Slow-motion Video Recording: The Zf now supports slow-motion video recording.
- Birds Detection Feature: The Zf now supports the “Birds” detection feature, which improves autofocus performance when photographing avian subjects.
NX Tether’s interface mirrors the controls found on Nikon cameras. The application is compatible with macOS versions Sequoia 15, Sonoma 14, and Ventura 13, as well as Microsoft’s Windows 10 and 11 software. Full details on camera compatibility can be found on Nikon’s website.
Nikon’s NX Tether 2.3.0 offers updates that enhance the tethered shooting experience, especially for users of the Z5II and Zf models. It’s a valuable and free tool for photographers and videographers looking for efficient, real-time control over their cameras.
For a visual overview of NX Tether’s capabilities, you may find this demonstration from Nikon’s YouTube page, recorded last year, helpful:
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