Sony World Photography Awards Cannes 2008: Professional Finalists Announced

With just ten days until the Awards ceremony, the professional finalists are announced in the ultimate judging stage of the Sony World Photography Awards. Three professional photographers in each of the eleven categories will wait in anticipation to find out who has won the prestigious title of ‘Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year’, to be announced at the Gala Evening and Awards Presentation at the Palais des Festivals, Cannes on 24th April.

The 33 finalists are a true representation of the international scope of the awards, covering a broad range of

countries including Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, UK, India, Russia, Chile, US, Brazil, Bangladesh, Mexico and Turkey amongst others. These selected professional finalists will travel to Cannes to attend the VIP event where the overall winner and category winners will be announced, awarded the L’iris d’or and receive their $25,000 prize.

Each of the category winners will also be presented with their awards by members of the World Photographic
Academy, comprised of the industry’s global elite including Tom Stoddart, Martine Franck, Bob Willoughby, Elliott
Erwitt, Delly Carr and Stephen Cohen. Amateur winner Arup Ghosh from India who was announced last week will
also be presented with his award and $5,000 cash prize donated by Sony.

Honorary Board Members from the World Photographic Academy chose the finalists from the shortlist announced
last month. From these 33 finalists, the Honorary Board are currently selecting the category winners, second and
third runners up. The ultimate decision to name the ‘Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year’ will
take place in a final meeting amongst the Honorary Board just hours before the Awards ceremony on 24th April.

Scott Gray, Founder of Sony World Photography Awards commented, “The World Photographic Academy has had a
challenging assignment to select the finalists from such an expansive selection of high quality work. The 33
professional finalists should be rewarded with the knowledge that they were chosen from a total of 44,641
professional entries internationally – the calibre of photographic entries is a testament to the industry in itself.”

James Kennedy, General Manager Marketing Communications, Sony Digital Imaging Europe said, “These finalists
have all achieved something exceptional within the modern art form of photography. The Sony World Photography
Awards will celebrate their accomplishments and create ambassadors for the industry. Photography is an artistic
medium that is within reach of everyone and we hope that the Awards will inspire future generations of photographers".