CANNES.- The professional finalists and amateur winners of the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards were announced today, Tuesday 17 March.

The 44 photographers, from 22 separate countries, beat off stiff competition from the 186 shortlisted photographers, revealed last month.

Each of the photographers on the list will be exhibited and honoured at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony at the prestigious Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on Thursday 16 April. Of the 12 professional category winners, one photographer will be the recipient of the L’Iris D’Or, the Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. On the night they will be awarded $25,000 along with Sony camera equipment. The winning amateur photographer, selected from the eight category finalists, will receive a $5,000 cash prize and Sony camera equipment.

The Sony World Photography Awards aim to promote the work of photographers worldwide. As one of the main prizes, the professional category finalists and amateur category winners will be showcased in the Winners’ Exhibition inside the Rotonde Lerins which takes place alongside the Festival, a week-long celebration of photography. This winner’s exhibition will then be adapted for the 2009/2010 Global Tour, which exhibits throughout leading galleries and cities around the world.

On behalf of the Honorary Judging Committee Zelda Cheatle said: “It has been a joy to work with my fellow judges. We were most diligent in being fair, discussions were fruitful, and every entrant was given a serious viewing. It was an eye opener to see entries from all over the globe, of every standard from the most amateur of approaches to the sophisticated and experienced professional. It is with great pleasure that we present this year’s Sony World Photography Award winners.”

Astrid Merget, Event Director, adds: “Photography is a powerful medium that documents current social, political, environmental and cultural affairs. It has the ability to educate, inform, motivate, entertain, change views or simply share cultural and social trends. This year’s finalists beautifully highlight the ability of the still image to do all of this and more.”

Yoshiyuki Nogami, Vice President of Digital Imaging at Sony Europe, commented: “We’ve been honoured to once again lend our full support to this unique global showcase for professional and amateur photography talent and have been impressed by the inspiring diversity and quality of this year’s entries.”

Professional finalists

Photojournalism and Documentary
Current affairs Wojciech Grzedzinski (Poland) Winner
Dominic Nahr (France) 2nd place
Hui min Kuang (China) 3rd place

Sport
Julian Abram Wainwright (Canada) Winner
Salvi Danés Vernedas (Spain) 2nd place
Li Fan (China) 3rd place

Contemporary issues
Giulio Di Sturco (Italy) Winner
Kosuke Okahara (Japan) 2nd place
Massimo Mastrorillo (Italy) 3rd place

Arts and entertainment
Amit Madheshiya (India) Winner
Chiara Goia (Italy) 2nd place
Ohm Phanphiroj (Thailand) 3rd place

Commercial Advertising
Dustin Humphrey (USA) Winner
Peter Franck (Germany) 2nd place
Dylan Collard (UK) 3rd place

Fashion
Piotr Fajfer (Poland) Winner
Jessica Hilltout (Belgium) 2nd place
Takaki Hashimoto (Japan) 3rd place

Music
Amiran White (UK) Winner
Gordon Welters (Germany) 2nd place
Elen Miroshkina (Russia) 3rd place

Fine Art
Portraiture
Roderik Henderson (Netherlands) Winner
Martin Bogren (Sweden) 2nd place
Hans de Vries (Netherlands) 3rd place

Conceptual & Constructed
Tamany Baker (UK) Winner
Branislav Kropilak (Slovakia) 2nd place
Angelika Sher (Israel) 3rd place

Natural History
Lisa Maree Williams (Australia) Winner
Steve Morenos (Australia) 2nd place
Yannick Dixon (UK) 3rd place

Landscape
David Zimmerman (USA) Winner
Edgar Martins (UK) 2nd place
Yvonne Seidel (Germany) 3rd place

Architecture
Michael van den Bogaard (Germany)Winner
Joel Micah Miller (Germany) 2nd place
Daichi Ano (Japan) 3rd place

Amateur winners

Photojournalism and Documentary
Sport
Lorenz Holder (Germany)

Commercial
Fashion
Christo Stankulov (France)

Music
Josef Hinterleitner (Austria)

Fine Art
Portraiture
Claire Martin (Australia)

Conceptual & Constructed
Vladimir Melnik (Russia)

Natural History
Vincent Foong (Singapore)

Landscape
Giuseppe Parisi (Italy)

Architecture
David Watts (UK)