Local photographic talent has today been given a global platform by the world’s biggest photography competition, the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.

The awards, produced by the World Photography Organisation, present the winners of its National Awards programme, designed to uncover the best single shot taken by a local photographer across 60 countries.

Individual National Awards ran across the four corners of the world – from Argentina to Australia, Russia to Vietnam – and the entries were taken from the ten categories of the Sony World Photography Awards’ Open competition.

An expert panel of judges led by the World Photography Organisation has rewarded a huge variety of work from across the 60 winners – from stunning shots of wildlife to beautiful portraits, classic architectural images to recognisable scenes of daily life.

All the 2016 National Awards winners have received the latest digital imaging equipment from Sony to help them continue their photographic journeys and will be exhibited as part of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London from 22nd April – 8 May. In addition, over half of the winners will be flown to London to attend the Sony World Photography Awards gala ceremony to see their work exhibited and extend their photographic networks.

Since launching in 2012, the National Awards programme has grown from eight participating countries to sixty, making it unique in its scope and reach. Previous winners of the National Awards have been their work published internationally and used the recognition as a door into the photographic industry.

The Sony World Photography Awards is free to enter for all. The 2017 edition – the 10th anniversary of the competition – will open on 1st June 2017.