FILIPINO photographer Lawrence Sumulong has been shortlisted for the Professional Conceptual category of the world's biggest photography competition, the Sony World Photography Awards.
Sumulong's shortlisted series “Trapo” was selected from 230,103 images from 186 countries, the highest number of entries in the awards' nine-year history.
The total number of entries received by the Sony World Photography Awards since its launch in 2007 has now surpassed one million images, reinforcing the awards' position as one of the most respected and influential photography competitions in the world.
Sumulong will now compete to win the Professional Conceptual category against photographers from around the world and the L'Iris d'Or / Photographer of the Year title and $25,000 (USD) cash prize, which will be announced at a Gala Ceremony in London on April 21.
Sumulong will also have his work shown in London as part of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition in April and May, and be published in the 2016 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book.
Lawrence Sumulong is a Filipino American photographer based in New York City and Manila. He has received great recognition for his original photographic projects challenging the photographic medium. His “Trapo” series is an ongoing project focusing on politics in the Philippines.
“My series "Trapo' attempts to find an idiosyncratic way of working within the social documentary genre and express the invisible scourge of corruption and impunity in Philippine politics and society, which seemingly exists in all tiers of existence from the pencil pushers all the way to the president. However, in deconstructing political portraits, I attempt to ask broader questions about the authenticity, rhetoric, and utility of photographic representations. On the heels of the looming 2016 Philippine presidential elections, this exposure comes at an important and exigent time for this series,” Sumulong said.
As to his success, he said: "I am extremely grateful to be shortlisted at this prestigious competition considering my project's obscure subject matter and approach."
The Sony World Photography Awards rewards and recognizes the world's best contemporary photography from the last year.
Attracting photographers of all abilities, the awards incorporate four competitions: Professional, Open, Youth and Student.
"We are extremely pleased with our jurors' choices this year. Despite the increase in the number of photographers, and the amount of imagery that required judging, this year above all, others we have witnessed a wealth of powerful imagery in the traditionally strong social documentary categories as well as the art and conceptual work. It is wonderful for the medium that it can offer such rich diversity," said Scott Gray, CEO of the World Photography Organisation and organizer of the awards.
For more information about the awards, visit www.worldphoto.org. (PR)