The ‘National & Regional Award’ winners of the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards have been revealed, showcasing the work of some of the globe’s most talented photographers. 

This year’s awards ‘celebrate a great diversity of visual storytelling from across the globe’.

Over 419,000 images from more than 200 countries and territories were submitted to the 2025 contest overall, with national and regional award winners selected from Open category entries. The National and Regional Awards programme was set up by Sony and the World Photography Organisation to support ‘local photographic communities around the world’, with 56 countries taking part in the 2025 competition. 

Among the scenes featuring in this year’s incredible winners’ gallery are a ‘crash-landing’ penguin in Antarctica, a lava-streaked volcano in Indonesia and colourful Saharan sand that made its way to the French Alps. 

The overall winners in the Student, Youth, Open and Professional competitions of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 will be announced on April 16 and will go on display as part of an exhibition at Somerset House, London (April 17 – May 5, 2025). 

Scroll down to see MailOnline Travel’s pick of this year’s best ‘National & Regional Award’ winners…

Titled 'Crash Landing', this incredible photo was taken by South African photographer Werner de Kock at Baily Head in Antarctica, which is home to around 100,000 pairs of chinstrap penguins. To capture this action shot, de Kock watched a 'conveyor belt of penguins coming and going from the beach' with his 'focus on a single spot' as they returned to the beach with the breaking surf. It wins the national award in South Africa

Titled ‘Crash Landing’, this incredible photo was taken by South African photographer Werner de Kock at Baily Head in Antarctica, which is home to around 100,000 pairs of chinstrap penguins. To capture this action shot, de Kock watched a ‘conveyor belt of penguins coming and going from the beach’ with his ‘focus on a single spot’ as they returned to the beach with the breaking surf. It wins the national award in South Africa

Serbian photographer Slobodan Blagojeviċ took this spectacular image in Montepulciano, a hilltop town in Italy's Tuscany region. It makes the shortlist in the Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina regional awards

Serbian photographer Slobodan Blagojeviċ took this spectacular image in Montepulciano, a hilltop town in Italy’s Tuscany region. It makes the shortlist in the Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina regional awards

Syed Mahabubul Kader wins the Bangladesh national awards with this spectacular image of workers unloading paddy straw from a truck. Kader explains: 'The rice straw is a by-product of farming that is used for a variety of purposes, including as cattle food and fuel'

Syed Mahabubul Kader wins the Bangladesh national awards with this spectacular image of workers unloading paddy straw from a truck. Kader explains: ‘The rice straw is a by-product of farming that is used for a variety of purposes, including as cattle food and fuel’

This mesmerising photo was taken in an 'underwater cave' on the South Korean island of Ulleungdo. Kyunghwan Oh takes third place in South Korea's national awards with the image

This captivating image of Dubrovnik was taken by Suer Celina, a Kosovan photographer

LEFT: This mesmerising photo was taken in an ‘underwater cave’ on the South Korean island of Ulleungdo. Kyunghwan Oh takes third place in South Korea’s national awards with the image. RIGHT: This captivating image of Dubrovnik was taken by Suer Celina, a Kosovan photographer

The winner of the Myanmar national awards, Zay Yar Lin snaps a 'local farmer and his family having breakfast' in Old Bagan, Myanmar. The family had been working in the paddy fields since the early morning

The winner of the Myanmar national awards, Zay Yar Lin snaps a ‘local farmer and his family having breakfast’ in Old Bagan, Myanmar. The family had been working in the paddy fields since the early morning

This powerful image of Mount Merapi, a highly active volcano in Indonesia, wins Sim Jhones Gozali the Indonesia national awards

This powerful image of Mount Merapi, a highly active volcano in Indonesia, wins Sim Jhones Gozali the Indonesia national awards

Named '(In)visible Path', this enchanting image of Studeni Potok ['stream'] valley in Bosnia & Herzegovina was taken by Sanja Vrzić and depicts the 'intricate path' of a mountain stream through the 'first snow of the year'. The stream becomes 'completely invisible' when it freezes 'later in the winter'. Legend says the stream was created by the 'movement of an ancient snake-like beast'

Named ‘(In)visible Path’, this enchanting image of Studeni Potok [‘stream’] valley in Bosnia & Herzegovina was taken by Sanja Vrzić and depicts the ‘intricate path’ of a mountain stream through the ‘first snow of the year’. The stream becomes ‘completely invisible’ when it freezes ‘later in the winter’. Legend says the stream was created by the ‘movement of an ancient snake-like beast’

This incredible photo of the Prokletije mountain range was taken by Montenegrin photographer Radojko Bošković from the Trojan ridge on the border between Montenegro and Albania

This incredible photo of the Prokletije mountain range was taken by Montenegrin photographer Radojko Bošković from the Trojan ridge on the border between Montenegro and Albania

The winner of the Saudi Arabia national awards, Mohammed Muhtasib took this mesmerising shot at Toji railway station in Dhaka in Bangladesh. At the time of this photograph the station was 'bustling with people returning from prayer'

The winner of the Saudi Arabia national awards, Mohammed Muhtasib took this mesmerising shot at Toji railway station in Dhaka in Bangladesh. At the time of this photograph the station was ‘bustling with people returning from prayer’

Shortlisted for the Latin America regional awards, Costa Rican photographer Lior Berman Fernandez captured this image in Argentinian Patagonia. The incredible photograph was snapped as 'the first rays of sunlight hit the face of Monte Fitz Roy' and the 'blue moon descends towards the horizon'

Shortlisted for the Latin America regional awards, Costa Rican photographer Lior Berman Fernandez captured this image in Argentinian Patagonia. The incredible photograph was snapped as ‘the first rays of sunlight hit the face of Monte Fitz Roy’ and the ‘blue moon descends towards the horizon’

This captivating photo of a black rhino on a 'misty morning' wins the Kuwait national awards for photographer Mohammed Mirza. The mist 'adds a dreamlike quality to the scene'

This captivating photo of a black rhino on a ‘misty morning’ wins the Kuwait national awards for photographer Mohammed Mirza. The mist ‘adds a dreamlike quality to the scene’

Peter Svoboda, a Slovakian photographer, wins the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania & Moldova regional awards with this amazing image of 'coloured snow' in the French Alps. The phenomenon occurred in summer 2024 and was caused by 'winds blowing sand from the Sahara desert to the mountains'

The winner of the Thailand national award, this stunning aerial photo of a boat cruising into Thailand's Phang Nga Bay was captured by Kiyoshi Hijiki

LEFT: Peter Svoboda, a Slovakian photographer, wins the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania & Moldova regional awards with this amazing image of ‘coloured snow’ in the French Alps. The phenomenon occurred in summer 2024 and was caused by ‘winds blowing sand from the Sahara desert to the mountains’. RIGHT: The winner of the Thailand national award, this stunning aerial photo of a boat cruising into Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay was captured by Kiyoshi Hijiki

A sweet image of a 'young goat next to its mother' was taken by Moldovan photographer Irina Zaiteva and is shortlisted in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania & Moldova regional awards

A sweet image of a ‘young goat next to its mother’ was taken by Moldovan photographer Irina Zaiteva and is shortlisted in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania & Moldova regional awards

This gorgeous image picks up first prize in the South Korea national awards. Taken by Kibong Nam, the photo was snapped at a waterfall in Iceland to showcase the country's 'natural beauty' and was captured using a 'slow shutter speed' as the 'water spreads like a crown'

This gorgeous image picks up first prize in the South Korea national awards. Taken by Kibong Nam, the photo was snapped at a waterfall in Iceland to showcase the country’s ‘natural beauty’ and was captured using a ‘slow shutter speed’ as the ‘water spreads like a crown’



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