A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words: The Most Powerful Images In The World This Year

Over 12,000 submissions from 170 countries were entered to the Sony World Photography Awards this year. It’s a record number to date.

They were narrowed down to a shortlist of 43 images including both the professional and open categories.

The shortlist is a selection of images depicting landscapes, emotions, traditions, traumas and other people’s lives. Here are a select few from the shortlist.

Astrid Merget, creative director of the World Photography Organisation, said: “The World Photography Organisation is dedicated to finding the best international contemporary photography from across the world.

“The shortlist is a clear indication of the exciting photography which is out there and, as we do every year, we are looking forward to presenting this collection of photographers to a global audience.”

The photographers' work will be exhibited at Somerset House, London, from April 26 to May 12 as part of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition, and published in the 2013 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book.

The Open and Youth category winners will be announced on March 19^th.