Winners of 2009 Sony World Photography Awards announced

Fighting off stiff competition from a worldwide shortlist of 186 photographers, the winners of the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards were revealed today.

Each of the photographers on the list, along with the runners-up in the professional categories, will be exhibited and honoured at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, on Thursday 16 April.

Of the 12 professional category winners, one photographer will be the recipient of the L’Iris D'Or, the Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. On the night they will be awarded $25,000. The winning amateur photographer, selected from the eight category finalists, will receive a $5,000 cash prize.