2019 Sony World Photography Awards celebrates Australian photographic talent

The World Photography Organisation have announced the winners of the 2019 National Awards, with Lismore-based photographer Marc Stapelberg the recipient of the 2019 Australia National Award.

Part of the Sony World Photography Awards, the National Awards recognises the work of local photographers with the aim of promoting them on a global scale.

Marc Stapelberg’s image Untitled was selected as the single best image taken by any photographer of Australian nationality and living in Australia.

Stapelberg has worked in the industry for 14 years, and has been honored multiple times in international competitions.  The striking winning portrait captures a local indigenous man called Steven Walker who has worked in Landcare for the past 15 years.

Speaking of his achievement, Stapelberg said:

“I am absolutely and completely humbled to be selected to be among such talented and profoundly beautiful image makers from across the world.  There is not a person on the planet who has not been profoundly moved by a photograph they have seen. As children it expands our imagination and opens our eyes to the incredible planet we live on. This is the beauty of photography. To be able to contribute to this global archive of such significance is a real honour. Thank you to Sony World Photography Awards, the judges and fellow photographers.”

As National Award winner, Stapelberg receives digital imaging equipment from Sony. The winning work will be shown at the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition in London from April 18 – May 6 and will be published in the 2019 Awards’ book.

Now in their 12th year, the competition consists of four competitions in total: Professional (for a body of works), Open (for a single image), Student (for academic institutions) and Youth (for 12-19 year olds).  

The success is announced today alongside the winners all 62 National Awards, a selection of which you can see below, and the 10 categories of the Awards’ Open competition. The shortlist for the Awards’ Professional and Student competitions will be revealed March 26. The overall and Professional category winners of the Awards will be announced April 17. 

For more details ands to see more winners, visit www.worldphoto.org