2017 Sony World Photography Awards Shortlist

I'm really proud to share this official press release from the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards. It is such a privilege to be shortlisted in the Architecture category of the open competition:

The judges of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards today honour the work of UK photographer Tim Cornbill, whose image “Oculus” is shortlisted as top ten in the world in the awards’ Open Architecture category. 

Over 227,000 images from 183 countries were submitted to the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards.  Tim, who is based in Birmingham, is recognised alongside the shortlisted photographers of the Professional, Open, Youth and Student Focus competitions, all of which are also announced today. 

In the Open competition, judges were looking for the best single images across ten categories, representing the finest contemporary photography today.   

Tim notes: “Having just arrived in Berlin on a bright summer's day, my wife and I decided to take a morning walk along the River Spree. We soon came across a large concrete building, and I was immediately struck by its geometry and scale. Across the river, I positioned myself for a single point perspective and waited for the right moment to capture it. A couple came into the viewfinder and I noticed the cyclist out of the corner of my eye. I waited for them to move into the frame and hit the shutter to try and balance the composition."

“I am a part-time photographer and qualified architect based in Birmingham, UK. Buildings are a huge passion of mine, and feature heavily in my photographs. I love nothing more than exploring a new city, wandering the streets and discovering its architecture through photography.”

“I first became interested in photography as a teenager, nearly 20 years ago. In recent years, my passion has been reinforced by social media, which I use to share my images, and connect with other photographers and artists. In 2015, I was honoured to become a ‘suggested user’ on Instagram, and it was around that time my photography really took off in the local community. I’ve used my social platforms to portray my home city, with its evolving urban fabric proving to be an excellent backdrop to explore my photographic style. I’m looking forward to developing my work further in the coming years, and I’m excited to see what opportunities the future holds.”

“I was astonished when I received the news that I had been shortlisted in the architecture category. I am truly honoured and humbled to receive this accolade. I never thought one of my photographs could make such an impact, but it seems this one has! As an architect, I’m passionate about capturing buildings, and I’m always on the lookout for photogenic designs. I was really struck by the sheer scale of this façade and the visual impact of the circle, which I hope I’ve been able to convey in this everyday street scene. I am truly thrilled to have been recognised in the world’s largest photography competition and it will be amazing to see the photo exhibited in London.”

Tim will now compete to win the Open Architecture category and the latest Sony digital imagery equipment – all ten Open category winners will be announced March 28.  From the category winners, the Open Photographer of the Year and recipient of the $5,000 cash prize will be revealed on April 20. 

The photographer’s work will also be shown alongside the awards’ other shortlisted and winning images at the Sony World Photography Awards & Martin Parr – 2017 Exhibition in London from April 21-May 7.

Sony World Photography Awards

Produced by the World Photography Organisation, 2017 sees the 10th anniversary of the Sony World Photography Awards and a decade-long partnership with its headline sponsor, Sony.  

Each year the awards recognise and reward the very best contemporary photography captured over the last year entered into any of the awards’ four competitions - Professional, Open, Youth and Student Focus. With 49 nationalities represented, the 2017 shortlists reinforce the awards’ international appeal and unique ability to present the greatest images taken by photographers from all corners of the world on a truly global scale.   

Each of the four competitions are judged anonymously by internationally acclaimed industry professionals, carefully selected by the World Photography Organisation. For full list of 2017 judges, please click here

King Kong's Clock Tower*

*Published on April Fools' Day 2016

I'm excited to finally be able to announce a project I have been working on for the past 18 months, to bring King Kong back to Birmingham.

King Kong will return to Birmingham, atop an 180m tall clock tower.

King Kong's Clock Tower, or as it has been affectionately nicknamed, 'King Kong's Dong', is set to be one of the tallest clock towers in the world, and will be located in the heart of Birmingham. The new rotating statue of King Kong will be a replica of the original sculpture by Nicholas Monro that stood in the Bullring in the '70s, although this one will be five times larger.

King Kong is well loved by the people of Birmingham, and it is an honour to be involved with his return to this great city. The clock tower will be an inspirational and unique addition to the skyline. Complete with a 360 degree observation deck, the new tower is set to be a key tourist attraction for the city.

Below are some early visuals of tower, which is due for completion early 2019.

What do you think of King Kong's Dong? Are excited to see the return of this great Brummie icon?

King Kong's Clock Tower will rise above the skyscrapers of Birmingham city centre

King Kong's Clock Tower will rise above the skyscrapers of Birmingham city centre

King Kong will rotate around the top of the clock tower 

King Kong will rotate around the top of the clock tower 

The tower will be illuminated by colour changing LEDs during the night and will be seen from many miles away

The tower will be illuminated by colour changing LEDs during the night and will be seen from many miles away

At 180m high, the clock tower is set to be the tallest in the world

At 180m high, the clock tower is set to be the tallest in the world