The shortlist for the 2022 Sony World Photography Awards has been announced.
Several stunning underwater images featuring both animals and humans are contenders this year. These photos include a stunning above and below split image of the world’s first submarine greenhouse “Nemo’s Garden,” which is situated just off the coast of Italy.
The work is by Italian photographer Giacomo d’Orlando who stated:
“This completely self-sustainable project explores an alternative farming system that could be implemented in areas where environmental or geo-morphological conditions make the growth of plants almost impossible. The encouraging results of the past few years, where more than 40 species of plants have been successfully cultivated, gives hope that a sustainable agricultural system has been developed to help tackle the new challenges brought by climate change.”
Another stunning series of images were shot by US photographer and cave explorer Martin Broen.
The photo is a contender in the landscape category and captures a diver exploring underwater caves in the Yucatan Peninsula. Describing the speleothems in his shot, Broen stated:
“These decorations took millennia to form. A majestic world that is under our feet and is barely known due to the challenge of reaching and photographing it, with no natural light beyond the entry points. These are locations that may be hours away from the closest exit to safety, through a labyrinth of underwater tunnels, but that can offer (to the daring photographer) some unique experiences to shoot.”
A finalist in the Wildlife & Nature category, UK-based photographer Grahame Purdy captured a mesmerizing image of a seal gracefully turning around a bait ball.
Purdy shot the image off the coast of Baja, California. Commenting about his shot and nature, Purdy stated:
“Despite two-thirds of the world being covered in seas and oceans, we know so little about this world. Our lack of understanding is partly driven by the remoteness and challenges in experiencing these environments. We are often content with near-shore sea-life experiences: coral or rocks can bring some degree of reliable experience. But our deep oceans remain otherworldly. I have been driven, and inspired, to photograph these places. To show the beauty that exists in the oceans and seas is our first step in connecting with wildlife that lives there.”
You can find the 2022 Sony World Photography Awards shortlist on the Daily Mail’s website.
