The shortlist for the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards has just been announced, with UK-based New Zealander Robin Hammond listed as one of three finalists in the Current Affairs category. With a Professional competition spanning the three genres of Photojournalism & Documentary, Fine Art and Commercial, and an Open competition for photographers of all abilities, the Sony World Photography Awards is the most comprehensive photographic competition in the world today.
Hammond’s entries in the Professional Photojournalism competition documents survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


© Robin Hammond / Panos Pictures courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011 

The shortlist for this year’s Professional competition was selected by the Honorary Judging Committee, comprising world-renowned figures from the international photographic industry including photographers, picture editors, agents and critics. The 2011 competition has attracted more submissions than ever before, reaching all corners of the globe, with over 105,000 entries from 162 counties.

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation commented on the Professional award selections: “This has been an extraordinary year for the competition. With the highest number of entries since the awards were founded, we are clearly reaching a vast international community of photographers. Even so, the honorary jury continues to push the level of quality accepted into the shortlist extremely high, selecting only the best. All within the shortlist should certainly be very pleased with their accomplishment.”


© Robin Hammond / Panos Pictures courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011
Caption: Survivors of sexual violence at a Caritas drop in centre in Goma, Eastern DRC.

The winners of the Professional categories will be announced on Thursday 27 April at the Sony World Photography Awards ceremony in London. The winner of the coveted L’Iris D’Or / Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year will also be announced on the night. They will receive $25,000 and professional Sony camera equipment.