Sony World Photography Awards 2015 Shortlist

The World Photography Organization has announced the finalist shortlist for the Sony World Photography Awards 2015. For the three categories of Open, Professional and Youth, the organization received a record number of submissions of 173,444 photographs from 171 countries worldwide. Covering a wide range of subjects — with everything from the environment, wildlife and dance, to current affairs and social issues — the selected photographs depict anything from a serendipitous shot of a cat in mid-air, to more poignant compositions such as a Ukrainian protestor playing the piano atop some barricades during last year’s historic protests in Kiev. The winners will be announced in the near future and put on display at Somerset House in London. Meanwhile, check out more photos from the shortlist selection here.