The winners of the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards have been announced, highlighting global excellence across all levels of photography. This year’s top honor, Photographer of the Year, went to London-based Zed Nelson for The Anthropocene Illusion, a six-year, four-continent exploration of humanity’s fractured bond with nature. The award ceremony, held at Somerset House in London—where the winners’ works are now on view until May 5th—celebrated both emerging talent and established voices.
Nelson’s project, inspired by the geological term Anthropocene, reveals how humans increasingly experience nature through artificial and curated environments. In the Open category, French photographer Olivier Unia won with Tbourida La Chute, capturing a dramatic moment from a Moroccan equestrian ritual. Other standout winners include Ulana Switucha,
Rhiannon Adam, Toby Binder, and Nicolás Garrido Huguet.
Originally launched in 2007, the prize continues to celebrate photographers across professional, youth, and student levels. This year’s entries came from over 200 countries and totaled more than 419,000 images. With a solo presentation promised for Nelson in next year’s show and a new Insights program offering mentorship, the Sony World Photography Awards reaffirms its role as a launchpad for visual storytellers worldwide.
The Anthropocene Illusion
Rhi-Entry
M’kumba
M’kumba
M’kumba
Shred the Patriarchy