Crowd pleaser: Winning images from around the world

The winners of the Open and Youth categories in the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 were announced today.

Billed as the global photographic event of the year, the awards celebrate the very best in photography from around the world, from the next generation of emerging photographers through to the established masters of the art.

The Open Competition is for anyone with an interest in photography and photographers are judged on a single image.

Click here or on "View Gallery" to view the winning images