The Sony World Photography Awards is now offering the the winner of the amateur competition a substantial $5,000 cash prize. Submissions closed on 31st January with a total of 25,934 amateur photograph entries and 44,641 professional photograph entries across the categories. Saatchi Online, one of the biggest names in the arts and photography world, has signed up to partner the World Photography Awards and support the amateur community. The winners will be announced on 15th February 2008.

Sony World Photography Awards Press Release

Saatchi Online’s Support and Sony’s $5,000 Amateur Cash Prize

News of $5,000 amateur cash prize and Saatchi Online’s involvement creates heightened excitement in the run up to shortlist announcement

The World Photography Awards (WPA), sponsored by Sony, proudly announces an impressive number of entries in its inaugural year. Submissions closed on 31st January with a total of 25,934 amateur photograph entries and 44,641 professional photograph entries across the categories.

The anticipation of the shortlist announcement grows with the revelation that the winner of the amateur competition will be awarded a substantial $5,000 cash prize, donated by Sony. This is in addition to being named ‘Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year’ and flown out as a VIP to attend the Awards ceremony in Cannes on 24th April 2008.

The selection process has also been heightened with the news that Saatchi Online, one of the biggest names in the arts and photography world, has signed up to partner the awards and support the amateur community. Saatchi Online will make a special selection of 100 images from the highly commended amateur entries, to be displayed on the ‘Saatchi Online Gallery Wall’ in Cannes during the Awards and exhibition in April. This will be followed by the launch of the ‘WPA Image Bank’ on Saatchi Online which will feature up to 1,000 top commended amateur images for commercial sale.

Scott Gray, Founder of Sony World Photography Awards commented, “When the World Photography Awards launched last year, we were delighted when Sony came on board as our headline sponsor. This additional support from Saatchi Online further strengthens our ability to raise the profile of photography on both a professional and amateur level.”

Key Dates

Shortlist announcement
· 15th February 2008

Finalists exhibition, Palais des Festivals, Cannes
· 21st-24th April 2008

Awards ceremony, Palais des Festivals, Cannes
· 24th April 2008

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