The whole race is exciting, especially at the turns.

The World Photography Organisation has announced the category winners and shortlist of theSony World Photography AwardsOpen Competition.

These images were culled from over 200,000 photos that were submitted to the Open Competition.

Cowgirl at a barrel racing competition

“Slam on the Brakes” © Zhenhuan Zhou, China Mainland, Winner, Open Competition, Motion, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“Barrel racing is a competition where cowgirls ride quickly around barrels; the one that does this in the shortest time wins. Every time a horse reaches a barrel it needs to brake sharply, turn around the barrel and then race to the next one. The whole race is exciting, especially at the turns.”

The horse’s hooves jut out into the foreground as it brakes sharply.

It’s a wonderful example of how movement can be conveyed in a still image.

Her photograph was one of several placed on the Landscape category shortlist.

A ski jump in Ruka, Finland.

“Untitled” © Isabel Bielderman, Netherlands, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“A ski jump in Ruka, Finland.”

Get your daily dose of stunning photography by scrolling down to take a look.

The Sony World Photography Awards announced the Open Competition category winners and shortlist.

Today, the only visible remnant of the village is the 14th-century church tower jutting from the water.

Sunken Church Tower in Curon, Italy

“Sunken Church Tower” © Paweł Jagiełło, Poland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“In 1950 the Italian village of Curon was flooded to create the artificial basin of Lake Resia, to power a hydroelectric dam. Today, the only visible remnant of the village is the 14th-century church tower jutting from the water.”

They were staring in the same direction and not moving, almost as if they were posing for me.

I was amazed by their powerful personalities.

More than 30 children turned this rice mill in Bahmanbaria, Bangladesh, into an obstacle course.

A beach seller sitting down next to his stall in Puglia, Italy

“The Way” © Lorenzo Grifantini, Italy, Shortlist, Open Competition, Street Photography, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“A beach seller sitting down next to his stall in Puglia, Italy.”

The Open Competition honors outstanding single images from 2022.

The peak in the distance is Mount Tymfi, which stands at a height of 2,497 meters.

I was conscious of making sure my camera was aligned horizontally and vertically when shooting.

Two Crested Caracaras Perched on a Branch

“Mighty Pair” © Dinorah Graue Obscura, Mexico, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“I think that a good picture does not need colour, it just needs to capture the desired moment in time. While I was shooting Crested Caracaras in flight in South Texas, I noticed these two, which were perched in a very similar way. They were staring in the same direction and not moving, almost as if they were posing for me. I was amazed by their powerful personalities.”

Over 200,000 photographs were submitted to this year’s Open Competition.

This was taken during a day trip to London for photographic inspiration and observations.

Im often drawn to photographing graphic shapes and compositions of typically mundane objects.

Children weave in and out of scores of giant cones at a rice processing plant in Bangladesh

“Childhood” © Azim Khan Ronnie, Bangladesh, Winner, Open Competition, Lifestyle, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“Children weave in and out of scores of giant cones or topas, as they roll a wagon around a rice processing plant. The cart is used by workers to carry rice and put it down for drying, but after they have finished with it, the children use it as a toy to play with. More than 30 children turned this rice mill in Bahmanbaria, Bangladesh, into an obstacle course.”

The overall winner will be announced in mid-April.

Taken at the European Championship of Catalonia in Santa Susana, 22 October 2022.

We feel, we love, we trust.

View of Mount Tymfi in Greece

“Untitled” © Giorgos Rousopoulos, Greece, Winner, Open Competition, Landscape, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“I had to stop and gaze at this stunning view during a hike in Pindus National Park, Greece. The peak in the distance is Mount Tymfi, which stands at a height of 2,497 meters.”

Decorated with lapis lazuli stones and gold ornaments, these headdresses often weigh more than 15kg.

Black and white photo of abandoned building in Japan

“Abandoned Complex” © Yuya Takahashi, Japan, Shortlist, Open Competition, Architecture, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“Although it is abandoned, this building in Japan is beautiful and has a strong presence. I was conscious of making sure my camera was aligned horizontally and vertically when shooting.”

2023 Sony World Photography Awards

“Pseudomnesia | The Electrician” © Boris Eldagsen, Germany, Winner, Open Competition, Creative, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“From the series Pseudomnesia.”

Black and white aerial photo of people walking on the beach

“The Beach” © Angel Ros Die, Spain, Shortlist, Open Competition, Creative, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“A different beach where people come with their worries and to put an end to them, here they are diluted until they disappear.”

Portrait of a young man with a skateboard

“Charlie” © Sukhy Hullait, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Portraiture, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“During the Covid-19 pandemic a lot of people found they had time on their hands. With most skateparks closed, Charlie—and many others—helped turn an abandoned pub car park, which had laid derelict for eight years, into a DIY skate park.”

Young Nomad with Her Camel

“Nomad Watcher” © Donell Gumiran, Philippines, Shortlist, Open Competition, Portraiture, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“The young nomad looks after his pet camel. The camel is to the Rajasthani nomad what the yak is to a Tibetan – it is a support system, a source of sustenance and a principal mode of transport.”

Metal Handrail in Front of a Terracotta Building

“Beauty in the Mundane” © Tim Green, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Object, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“The simple geometric lines and shadow of a handrail, set against the bold terracotta patterned walls of Tapestry Apartments in King’s Cross, London. This was taken during a day trip to London for photographic inspiration and observations. I’m often drawn to photographing graphic shapes and compositions of typically mundane objects.”

Wildebeest crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River, July 2022.

“The River Crossing” © Arnfinn Johansen, Norway, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“Wildebeest crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River, July 2022.”

2023 Sony World Photography Awards

“Recycled” © Mieke Douglas, Netherlands, Winner, Open Competition, Object, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“Photographs of pretty flowers from my garden? Look again…”

Photograph of silos and associated buildings at the Port of Brest, France

“The Silos” © Mark Benham, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Architecture, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“Taken from afar, this photograph of silos and associated buildings at the Port of Brest, France, appears to be a montage composite rather than the group of buildings that it actually is. To enhance this idea I changed the sky to a simple color vignette that complimented the colors in the composition.”

Woman practicing kata at the European Championship of Catalonia

“Perfection” © Gabriel Hernandez, Spain, Shortlist, Open Competition, Motion, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“We have shared the same gym for many years, and I knew that her kata—a choreographed set of moves—would be beautiful. Taken at the European Championship of Catalonia in Santa Susana, 22 October 2022.”

Creative Photo of Girl and Her Boy, Both with Black and White Hair

“We are one” © Mariola Glajcar, Poland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Creative, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“We are one. We are alike. We feel, we love, we trust.”

2023 Sony World Photography Awards

“Exhausted” © Andreas Mikonauschke, Germany, Winner, Open Competition, Street Photography, Sony World Photography Awards 2023“In Andalusia, Spain, the traditional Easter processions are a fascinating event to watch. The different brotherhoods (Hermandades) with their uniformed brothers (cofrades) are an everyday sight during the holy week, Semana Santa. Central elements of the processions are the heavy wooden frames (pasos) showing biblical scenes with one or more statues. These are carried through the streets by volunteer paso carriers underneath—usually one only sees their feet, but sometimes during the rare breaks one gets an impression of the tough job they have.”

A young Ladakh woman wearing traditional wedding attire

“Untitled” © Marios Forsos, Greece, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“A young Ladakh woman wearing traditional wedding attire, which includes an incredibly elaborate headdress. Decorated with lapis lazuli stones and gold ornaments, these headdresses often weigh more than 15kg. Interestingly, while the bride has a single outfit for the two-day long ceremony, the groom will change outfits more than three times.”

Mundari tribe of South Sudan Tending to Their Cattle

“Ghosts” © Max Vere-Hodge, United Kingdom, Winner, Open Competition, Travel, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“The Mundari tribe of South Sudan appear like apparitions among the nightly fires they light to keep the tsetse flies and mosquitoes off their beloved Ankole-Watusi cows. Each night, as the cattle return from grazing, the herders tend to them by massaging ash into their skin to prevent bites.”

Lit Up Christmas Train on Dartmouth steam railway in England

“Train of Lights” © Adrian Pearce, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Travel, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards“The ‘Santa special’ Christmas train runs on Dartmouth steam railway in Devon, England.”