The shortlist for the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards was announced on Tuesday 1 February, including a professional and an open competition. The 2011 competition attracted over 105,000 entries from 162 counties.

In the Professional competition there are 15 categories within the three subject genres: Photojournalism & Documentary (Current Affairs, Contemporary Issues, People, Arts & Culture and Sport); Commercial (Campaign, Travel, Lifestyle, Still Life and Fashion) and Fine Art (Architecture, Portraiture, Landscape, Still Life and Conceptual).

There are ten categories in the Open competition for anyone with an interest in photography. They are: Action, After Dark, Architecture, Arts & Culture, Fashion, Nature & Wildlife, Panoramic, People, Smile and Travel.

The winners of the Professional categories will be announced on Thursday 27 April at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony and will be showcased as part of the World Photography Festival (26 April to 1 May) and Exhibitions at Somerset House in London. The Sony World Photography Awards winners’ exhibition will stay open until 22 May 2011.

Created by the World Photography Organisation, the World Photography Awards are sponsored by Sony.

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