Sony World Photography National Awards 2017, 66 Countries

In 2017, people will take roughly 1.3 trillion digital photographs. How is that possible? Whip out your smartphone and scroll through your camera roll. That’s how.

With the current ‘gram glut, you’d think we’d have hit peak photo. But with 100-foot iceberg labyrinths and a bird straight out of Avatar, the winners of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards prove there’s still more to capture.

Most intriguing are their National Awards, where the judges choose the best single photo from each of the 66 participating countries, including “Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates for the first time this year.”

Here are a few of our favorites, with insight from some of the photographers.

^{© Camilo Diaz, Winner, Colombia National Award, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards}

Submerged field
“The Colombian national team is immersed in white, grey and black, fighting together for the ultimate position. With accredited prestige, an invitation was sent to participate in the European Junior Championship, as a guest team. Ana Maria and her team are constantly fighting, pushing their lungs to the limit and transforming their everyday lack of resources to an idea of opportunity.” —Camilo Diaz

^{© Aleš Komovec, Winner, Slovenia National Award, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards}

^{© Jim Chen, Winner, Taiwan National Award, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards}

^{© Josselin Cornou, Winner, France National Award, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards}

Tabular iceberg
“In March 2016, I headed to the Antarctic Peninsula as part of an expedition with explorer Robert Swan. On our way to the 66th parallel south, our boat was navigating in silence through 30 meter (100 feet) high tabular icebergs that were once part of the Larsen Ice Shelf. Those mesmerizing structures were displaying subzero icy corridors, forming a highly photogenic gargantuan maze. The scene was magnificent, but also incredibly scary. I took my camera, I had to show the world the impact that global warming has had.” —Josselin Cornou

Light from above
“The picture Light from above was taken in September 2016 in Santa Maddalena, [Dolomites], Italy. Beautiful light and humidity stood behind the nice play of light and shadows that morning. I was waiting as the small church was illuminated by the very first rays of sun.” —Peter Svoboda

If you find yourself in London between April 21st and May 7th, you can see these and other winning photographs in person at the competition’s exhibition at Somerset House.