LONDON, APRIL 29 – The Sony World Photography Awards 2025 revealed its overall winners at a special gala in London, celebrating standout achievements across the global photography community. British photographer Zed Nelsonwas honoured with the prestigious Photographer of the Year title for his series The Anthropocene Illusion, a six-year visual exploration of humanity’s artificial reconnection with nature amidst ecological decline.
He takes home a $25,000 cash prize, Sony digital imaging gear, and the opportunity to showcase new work at the 2026 exhibition. The ceremony also recognised Susan Meiselas with the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award, spotlighting her influential documentary practice spanning five decades. In addition, winners were announced across 10 Professional categories, alongside the Open, Student, and Youth competitions.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Exhibition opens at Somerset House, London from 17 April to 5 May, featuring over 300 prints and a special showcase by Meiselas. Other major honours included Olivier Unia (France) as Open Photographer of the Year for Tbourida La Chute, Micaela Valdivia Medina (Peru) as Student Photographer of the Year, and Daniel Dian-Ji Wu (Taiwan) as Youth Photographer of the Year.
Each recipient was praised for their compelling narratives, originality, and technical mastery, reinforcing the Awards’ global stature in championing contemporary photographic excellence.
