© Lester Koh Meng Hua, Singapore, Shortlist, Open, Architecture (open), 2017 Sony World Photography Awards
- 2017 awards received over 227,000 images from 183 countries
- Photographer competing for Sony digital imaging equipment and $5,000 cash prize
- Open category winners revealed March 28, overall winner announced April 20
- Two Singaporean photographers also placed top 50 in their categories
- Images from across entire shortlist available for publication at worldphoto.org/press
(SINGAPORE) – The judges of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards today honor the work of Singaporean photographer Lester Koh Meng Hua, whose image is shortlisted as top ten in the world in the awards’ Open Architecture category.
Over 227,000 images from 183 countries were submitted to the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards. Lester Koh Meng Hua, who is based in Singapore, is the sole Singaporean photographer to be recognised across the awards’ shortlists (top ten) for the Professional, Open, Youth and Student Focus competitions, all of which are announced today. A further two Singaporean photographers were also commended (placed top 50 in their category) by judges.
The shortlisted image captures the rustic charm of one of Singapore’s oldest public housing, with residents proudly displaying the Singapore flag outside their apartment. It was taken on 14 August 2016 at 5:40am, during Singapore’s 51st National Day celebration month. The awards’ judges were looking for the best single images across the ten categories of the Open competition, representing the finest contemporary photography today.
Lester Koh Meng Hua is a photography enthusiast interested in different genres, such as abstract, nature, sports, architecture, people, street photography, and cultural events. Talking about being shortlisted, he comments: “I am honored and grateful for this achievement.”
Lester Koh Meng Hua will now compete to win the Open Architecture category and the latest Sony digital imagery equipment – all ten Open category winners will be announced March 28. From the category winners, the Open Photographer of the Year and recipient of the $5,000 (USD) cash prize will be revealed on April 20.
The photographer’s work will also be shown alongside the awards’ other shortlisted, commended and winning images at the Sony World Photography Awards & Martin Parr – 2017 Exhibition in London from April 21 – May 7.
Further commendations
The judges of the Sony World Photography Awards also commended two Singaporean photographers in the awards’ Open competition. The photographers placed top 50 in the world for their images are:
- Albert Tan Chee Hiang, Nature category
- Chin Boon Leng, Wildlife category
© Albert Tan Chee Hiang, Singapore, Commended, Open, Nature, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards
© Chin Boon Leng, Singapore, Commended, Open, Wildlife, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards
Chin Boon Leng’s commended image ‘Curiosity!’ is a fascinating image capturing a wild rhino iguana in the Singapore zoo, while Tan’s commended image ‘Mongolia Yurt’, is a beautiful photograph taken in Inner Mongolia on a night shooting trip.
Sony World Photography Awards
Produced by the World Photography Organisation, 2017 sees the 10th anniversary of the Sony World Photography Awards and a decade-long partnership with its headline sponsor, Sony.
Each year the awards recognise and reward the very best contemporary photography captured over the last year entered into any of the awards’ four competitions – Professional, Open, Youth and Student Focus. With 49 nationalities represented, the 2017 shortlists reinforce the awards’ international appeal and unique ability to present the greatest images taken by photographers from all corners of the world on a truly global scale.
Each of the four competitions is judged anonymously by internationally acclaimed industry professionals, carefully selected by the World Photography Organisation. For full list of 2017 judges, please click here.