Sony New Zealand and the World Photography Organisation (WPO) announce details of the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 with the introduction of the first global 3D awards for video and photography.

The Sony World Photography Awards is the world’s most comprehensive photography competition. It includes a Professional competition, which invites entries from the world’s leading photographers and ‘serious enthusiasts’, and an Open competition for everyone with an interest in photography. Each competition has been refreshed with new categories for 2012, with a ‘Nature & Wildlife’ category introduced to the Professional competition and three new categories in the Open competition; ‘Enhanced’, ‘Split Second’ and ‘Low- light’. A new Youth competition has also been launched for the next generation of photographers under 20 years of age.

3D video and photography can give a whole new look to video and photographic compositions, adding astonishing levels of depth, clarity and realism. The 3D photography competition has two categories: ‘3D Panoramic’ and ‘3D Still’. The 3D video competition is open to 3D videos of all genres. Entries will be sought from cameras and video cameras that use true 3D technology.

The 2011 competition attracted more submissions than ever before, reaching all corners of the globe with over 105,000 entries from 162 countries. New Zealander Robin Hammond was listed as a finalist in the Professional Current Affairs category, eventually winning second place with his photo essay documenting survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “The Sony World Photography Awards are now recognised in the industry as one of the preeminent competitions. I regard receiving this award as a great honour”, said Robin.

“I created this work in the first place to raise awareness of a horrendous crime being perpetrated on an enormous scale. Having Sony exhibit this work hopefully means the message can reach an even greater audience. I see my role as a photojournalist to tell people about important issues they might not otherwise know about, so that we cannot use not knowing as an excuse for inaction.”

Entries for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards close on 04 January 2012 and the vast majority of winners will be presented with their trophies at a ceremony in London in late April 2012. The winner of the L’Iris D’Or Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year Award will also be revealed and presented with $25,000 (USD) plus Sony digital SLR camera equipment. The overall Open competition winner will receive $5,000 plus Sony digital SLR camera equipment.

Take Your Photography into the Third Dimension
High quality 3D entertainment is no longer restricted to movie screens and Sony has been leading the 3D revolution at every stage. Not only can you experience 3D on BRAVIA TVs, Blu-ray and PlayStation®3, now you can capture your world in stunning 3D with , Bloggie, Handycam and Cyber-shot cameras. Capture sweeping panoramic shots in glorious 3D on the 580, SLT55, and NEX5, HX100, HX9, H27, TX100, TX10, WX10, WX7 or simply use the MHS-FS3 Bloggie or TD10 Handycam to record 3D video and view them instantly on the LCD – no glasses required.