Today the World Photography Organisation reveals the shortlist for the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards Latin America Professional Award. Set up to promote exceptional talent from the region, the initiative, now in its fourth year, is open to all photographers entering the Professional competition from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
Gauchos by Antonio Valdez
This year’s shortlist shows a breadth of stories. Uriel Montúfar’s series Kawallu Pata (Horses of the Heights) explores the Andean people’s love of horses through majestic black & white photographs of the annual race in the Langui District. Another standout monochrome series is Antonio Valdez’ Gauchos, a collection of strong portraits of Argentinan cowboys. Three of the shortlisted series also appear in the Professional competition. Frederick Olivera Gonzales’ series makes the Documentary Projects shortlist and Carloman Macidiano Céspedes Riojas is a Finalist in the Still Life category. Gonzales’ work shows a religious pilgrimage that brings together the Andean nations of the Peruvian region of Cusco while Carloman Macidiano Céspedes Riojas looks at the food and meals brought into a Peruvian prison by their loved ones. Angela Ponce is shortlisted in the Environment category, and she was also successful in last year’s Latin America Professional Award with her series Only will be Black Mountains.
La Visita by Carloman Macidiano Céspedes Riojas
Speaking about the thinking behind the Award, Angelo Marconi, Regional Marketing Manager for Sony's Digital Image, says: “The art of storytelling keeps inspiring us to support more professional photographers through the Latin America Professional Award. At Sony, we’re excited to continue promoting these artists and their fresh insight into the important yet lesser-known stories from Latin America. We’re aware that Latin talent is being appreciated across the globe and our commitment to providing these artists with exposure and visibility is our biggest driver. As we unveil the shortlist for the fourth edition of the Award we welcome more and more photographers to share with the world their photo projects.”
The winner of the Latin America Professional Award, announced online on 13 April, receives a range of Sony digital imaging kit and, alongside the shortlisted photographers, has their work shown in a major regional exhibition. The winning series is also shown in the annual book and London exhibition at Somerset House.
