Two Australian photographers recognised in 2019 Sony World Photography Awards
Australian photographers Trent Mitchell and Andrew Kelly have been shortlisted in the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards.
Mitchell and Kelly join other shortlisted photographers announced this week in both the Professional and Student categories of the annual awards, which recognised the best work from a record-breaking 326,997 entries.
The Gold Coast's Trent Mitchell is a shortlisted photographer in the Professional Sport category for his series 'Inner Atlas', which captures the exact moment swimmers ride the ocean’s waves.
Judges praised the work for its technical ability and atmospheric insight into the sport of bodysurfing. Explaining his inspiration for the series, Mitchell says he was looking to shoot surf photography from a unique angle.
“Historically celebrated for performances above the water surface, I felt intrigued to explore the rider's interaction with the power of the sea from an immersive perspective below. What does it feel like to be there, moving at the perfect speed, intimately connecting with the dynamics of the sea? To ride the formless edge between fear and joy in a single breath? I discovered a physical and emotive space where man, movement and energy fuse during a journey of self-discovery and inner harmony.”
Melbourne-born photojournalist Andrew Kelly has been shortlisted for his series 'Outlawing the Face Veil in Denmark', which the judges found to be thought-provoking and insightful.
Intrigued by communities of people unlike his own, the photographs capture the daily life of women in Denmark wearing the niqab. According to a University of Copenhagen study, an “estimated 150-200 women wear the niqab daily in Denmark (population 5.5 million)”.
Intrigued by communities of people unlike his own, the photographs capture the daily life of women in Denmark wearing the niqab. According to a University of Copenhagen study, an “estimated 150-200 women wear the niqab daily in Denmark (population 5.5 million)”.
“On May 31, 2018, the Danish government voted to ban the wearing of face veils in public. Under the law, police will be able to instruct women to remove their veils or order them to leave public areas. Fines will range from 1,000 to 10,000 crowns ($160 - $1600). The ban would prevent Muslim women from wearing the niqab or burqa in public.
Some politicians asserted that the law promoted public safety and secular and democratic values. But many people felt it was an easy way for the government to appease a growing nationalist voter base.
Numerous social media campaigns in Denmark have demanded stricter laws on non-western immigrants, a reflection of rising populism in Europe. Denmark has struggled with integrating non-western immigrants, resulting in what have been labelled ‘parallel societies’ within the country," he says.
Kelly is based in New York City and has worked on assignment for Reuters, Getty Images, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, his images have been published nationally and globally.
All those shortlisted will go on to compete against talented photographers from across the world in their categories for the chance to become Professional Photographer of the Year and Student Photographer of the Year, with winners to be announced at a London Awards ceremony on 17 April, with prizes including $25,000 (USD) for the overall Professional winner, and €30,000 (Euros) for the overall Student winner’s institution.
All shortlisted and winning images will also be exhibited as part of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition in London from April 18 until May 6, 2019, before touring globally to countries including Japan, Italy and Germany.