22 Winners and Finalists of the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards Open Competition

Slam on the Brakes Zhenhuan Zhou, China Mainland, Winner, Open Competition, Motion, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards
Barrel racing is a competition where cowgirls ride quickly around barrels; the one that does this in the shortest time wins. Every time a horse reaches a barrel it needs to brake sharply, turn around the barrel and then race to the next one. The whole race is exciting, especially at the turns.

The World Photography Organisation has announced the category winners and shortlist of the Sony World Photography Awards Open Competition. These images were culled from over 200,000 photos that were submitted to the Open Competition. This part of the contest is open to all photographersboth professional and amateurand is designed to reward the best single images of 2022.

The 10 categories, which include Motion, Street Photography, Landscape, and Travel, are devised to give photographers ample opportunity to share their creativity. Photographers from seven different countries took home the top slot, while up to 15 others were named as part of the shortlist for each category.

Standout imagery includes Zhenhuan Zhou's dynamic photograph of a cowgirl and her horse during a barrel racing competition, which topped the Motion category. The horse's hooves jut out into the foreground as it brakes sharply. It's a wonderful example of how movement can be conveyed in a still image.

Isabel Bielderman's crisp, minimalist photograph of a ski jump hovering above snow-covered trees in Finland demonstrates that even the shortlist contains powerful imagery. Her photograph was one of several placed on the Landscape category shortlist. The Dutch photographer's stunning photo, where the white snow po...

Think youre having a bad day?

Just wait until you see what these folks are up against!

Because it aint pretty, my friends

Check out the hardships that these people are going through and say a special prayer for them.

1. Oh no!

That is terrible.

Photo Credit: Reddit

2. Cant live that one down.

And just think of how many people have seen it

Photo Credit: Reddit

3. I guess youll be ordering in tonight

Bad kitty!

Test Your Art Knowledge: How Much Do You Know About Impressionism? [Quiz]

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We're back with a new quiz to test your knowledge. Do you love Impressionism? You aren't alone. This iconic art movement continues to be a favorite of art lovers. Maybe you are an art history buff who spends your weekend at the museum or perhaps you are a casual art lover who likes a good Monet. In either case, this short, 15-question quiz will help you discover how much you truly know about this important art movement.

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Related Articles:

Discover Your Inner Artist: Which Famous Artist Are You? [Quiz]

10 Important Impressionist Painters Who Shaped the Iconic Movement

15 Famous Impressionist Paintings That Will Make You Fall in Love With the Style

The Evolution of Landscape Painting and How Contemporary Artists Keep It Alive

READ: Test Your Art Knowledge:...

Its a well-worn truism that art can be whatevers on the pedestal. Following this cue, Michle Pagel takes a broad approach. Her bulky cast-concrete caryatids, resembling archaeological finds, hold up

The documentary filmmaker and sports editor Paul Devlin has won five Emmy awards, but he may well be better known for not getting into Harvard or rather, for not getting into Harvard, then rejecting Harvards rejection. I noticed that the rejection letter I received from Harvard had a grammatical error, Devlin writes. So, I wrote a letter back, rejecting their rejection letter. His mother then sent a copy of this letter to the New York Times and it was published in the New Jersey section on May 31, 1981. In 1996, when the New York Times Magazine published a cover story about the trauma students were experiencing getting rejected from colleges, she seized the opportunity to send her sons rejection-rejection letter to the Paper of Record.

It turned out that Devlins letter had already run there, having long since gone the pre-social-media equivalent of viral. The New York Times accused me of plagiarism. When they discovered that I was the original author and they had unwittingly re-printed themselves, they were none too happy. But my mom insists that it was important to reprint the article because the issue was clearly still relevant.

Water in Dripping Group of Warblers (2022), stainless steel, 102 3/8 x 68 7/8 x 122 inches. All images Zheng Lu, shared with permission courtesy of HOFA Gallery

Harnessing the energy of water in motion, Zheng Lus metallic sculptures appear frozen in time. The Beijing-based artist defies utilitarian or industrial associations with steel, creating tension between the material and the fluid forms. Challenging our expectations and understanding of physics, smooth, chrome-like surfaces reflect the surroundings and change in the light as the viewer moves around them, further adding to the perception that the sculpture itself is in motion. In some of the works, Zheng composes surfaces of thousands of Chinese characters derived from historical texts and poems, nodding to early Chinese philosophers who studied physical principles of the natural world to better understand cosmological mysteries.

Zhengs exhibition Liquid Narratives runs March 16 to 29 at HOFA Gallery in London, marking the artists first show in the U.K., and you can find more of his work on his website.

...

From 2010 to 2012, filmmaker Kirby Ferguson released Everything is a Remix, a four-part series (watch here) that explored art and creativity, and particularly how artists inevitably borrow from one another, drawing on past ideas and conventions, and then turn these materials into something beautiful and new. In the initial series, Ferguson focused on musicians, filmmakers, writers and even video game makers. Now, a little more than a decade later, Ferguson has resurfaced and released a fifth and final chapter in his series, with this episode focusing on a different kind of artist: artificial intelligence. Responding to the rise of AI-generated art, Ferguson delves into the ethics of art generated by machines, particularly when theyre trained with human-created art. Is AI-generated art a form of piracy? Or is it another kind of creative remix? And what does AI mean for the future of art and creativity? These are just some of the weighty questions Ferguson tackles in his final installment. Watch it above.

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Everything is a Remix: A Video Series Exploring the Sources of Creativity

...

Lets have dinner tonight

And, oh, by the way, youre payingfor everyone

That sounds like a great proposition, doesnt it?

Im being sarcastic, in case youre wondering

Check out this story from Reddits Am I the A**hole? page and let us know if you think this woman was out of line for what she did to her boyfriend.

AITA for leaving the restaurant before my boyfriends family arrived after I was told that I was going to pay for their meals?

I (f29) have been dating my boyfriend (m35) Ricky for 5 months. Hes divorced but h**es this word and goes with the word divorcee instead since the first one makes it sound like he was dumped when it was him who initiated it.

Anyways, He always go on long rants about his exes and say stuff like I hope you dont have this awful habit my ex has or hope you like XYZ cause my ex didnt and the list goes on.

I found a 2nd job recently and hes been having me pay every time we go out. When I protest hed say hes going through a rough patch and is seeing how much help I cam offer.

Last night he invited his family to join us for dinner. We got to the restaurant first. He asked me if I brought enough momey, I said why and he told me that he told his parents that Id pay for their meals. I said why would I and he went on about his parents going through a rough patch just like him.

I said Im sorry this cant be a coincidence! he asked what I meant and I told him that I would not be paying. He insisted, I refused and said no. He then leaned back and said well, youre here, so n...

Its gotta be pretty crazy working for people who are super rich, dont you think?

Because, lets face it, they aint like the majority of usnot even close.

And today were gonna get the straight dope about what its really like!

Lets get started!

1. Tales from the bank.

I was a bank teller and have two stories here.

The first: A person my age, about 20, came in. He was a delight and came in once a year to take his trust, which was $100 million, and take the interest out, about $48,000. Once a year thats all he lived off. He was content and modest. I loved it.

The second: A girl came in with her mom. She actively whined at me for 10 minutes about how unfair it was that her mom had all this money in her account and was making her live in poverty with all her university fees paid, her rent and car covered as she was only getting a tiny payment of $5,000 a month. She couldnt fathom surviving off it. Th

e mother turns to me and says, Well, I dont know. I thought that would be enough to live off? Should I give her more? I meekly said, Thats $60,000 a year. I make $20,000 a year, am going to college full time, and have a baby on the way They both got really quiet and left. Never saw either of them again.

2. Living like a prince.

I briefly worked with one of the top Saudi Arabian crown princes in the 80s.

He would buy out the top three floors of the best hotels (Four Seasons, etc.); two floors were for maids/help/security, and the top floor was for the royal f...

Artists are fundamentally problem solvers. They are generally understood to be solving problems of a personal-expressive nature, or perhaps ones related to community, and occasionally political or environmental problems. They are not often considered the front line for solving, say, problems of city infrastructure. But maybe they should be.

If youd asked Oren Goldenberg what he does ten years ago, he might have said filmmaker or producer, or he might have narrowed his eyes and asked: Who wants to know? These days, however, the answer is a little more complicated. At some point in the last decade, Goldenberg stopped making films as a document, and stepped through the frame to build the world-as-document. It isnt the first time hes been tempted to do so. ...

Laurent Le Bon, president of Pariss Centre Pompidou, on March 14 signed an agreement with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to establish a massive branch of the contemporary art museum in the

Nancy Yao, president of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) in New Yorks Chinatown, has been named the inaugural director of the Smithsonian Institutions forthcoming American Womens History Museum. Critics have side-eyed the appointment, citing allegations of Yaos complacency toward gentrification, class discrimination, and the carceral state through a variety of controversial decisions in the last few years of her presidency at MOCA.

While MOCA gets to see the returns of the $35 million in jail funding that Nancy helped secure, we are happy to say so long to their disastrous president, said Youth Against Displacement, an anti-displacement and anti-gentrification activism group in New York City, in a statement to Hyperalle...

Protesters took to the streets in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday, March 14 to decry an assault of state-employed archeologist Manolis Psarros. Some believe the attack was connected to Psarross regulatory work preserving cultural antiquities on the island of Mykonos and ongoing pressures from the tourism industry. 

Last week, an unidentified man and his accomplice struck the 53-year-old archaeologist as he entered his car, causing Psarros to lose consciousness, collapse, and bleed. Psarross partner told the Greek newspaper Protothema that the archaeologist received punches to the face, head, and sternum. An employee of the Cyclades Antiquities Authority, a Ministry of Culture and Sports department, Psarros was taken to the hospital and is now recovering at home after suffering broken ribs and widespread bruises. 

Culture Ministry employees ceased working for five hours in response to what protesters are calling a mafia-style attack. Despina Koutsoumba, who leads the protesting archaeologist association, alleges the assault is potentially connected to recent cases of the Cyclades Antiquities Authority blocking real estate development in Mykonos, according to reporting by the Greek magazine ...

The Republic of Benin will stage a national pavilion for the first time at the Sixtieth Venice Biennale, to take place April 20November 24, 2024. The West African countrys government revealed that

Rare Star on the Brink of Going Supernova Photographed by the James Webb Space Telescope

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team

In the short time since it was launched into outer space, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been dazzling the public with stunning views of the universe. A newly released photo by NASA is a reminder of how much incredible imagery is yet to come. This JWST photo of a Wolf-Rayet star named WR 124 is a rare look at one of the luminousand massivestars that exist. And it's a good thing, as this star will soon explode.

Located 15,000 light-years away in the Sagittarius constellation, WR 124 was captured by the telescope in rich detail in June 2022. One of JWST's first observations, the imagery gives an unprecedented look at a Wolf-Rayet star. While these stars are incredibly bright due to their high temperatures, they're rare to see because they signal the end of the road in a star's life.

These enormous stars are showing their last burst of activity before they die out. NASA states that they live fast and die hard before exploding into a supernova. Part of this phase involves shedding their outer layers, which gives them their signature halos of gas and dust. To put into perspective how large these giants are, WR 124 is 30 times the mass of the Sun and has shed 10 Suns' worth of material thus far. As this material cools and blows away from the star, it forms cosmic dust.

JWST's imaging capabilities allow it to see through this dust and let researchers peek behind the curtain, so to speak. Dust is an essential part of the universe for several reasons. According to NASA: It shelters forming stars, gathers together to help form planets, and serves as a platform for molecules to form and clump togetherincluding the building blocks of life on Ea...

The achoque is a critically endangered species of salamander native to Lake Ptzcuaro in Michoacn, Mexico. It is noted for its regenerative qualities it can regrow lost limbs or even organs. This makes it of interest to religious pilgrims, who purchase an extract from the salamander sold by the nuns of the Baslica de Nuestra Seora de la Salud (Our Lady of Health), who have farmed the animals for over 150 years. It has also drawn the attention of the United States military, which dreams of creating soldiers with the same ability to self-heal. The nuns achoque population is now greater than that in the wild. The opening scene of A Common Sequence follows fishermen failing to find any as they trawl the lake. The documentarys title refers to the fundamental DNA script used to write all life on Earth into being. By observing the lake and two other milieus, the film muses on the different ways that humans assess, categorize, understand, and often exploit the natural world.

T...

In her latest film, queer avant-garde filmmaker Su Friedrich used her camera as a tool for observing her surroundings in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn over the last six years. Today (2022), one of several films screening in Lower Manhattan starting this week, demystifies the popular slogan of living in the moment, characterizing it as accepting what is right in front of us rather than searching for entrenched wonders.

Filming for Today had looser origins, Friedrich told Hyperallergic. What can I see on any given day that I respond to, that makes me happy, that makes me aware of lifes events. There wasnt any particular place to go or activity to film.

In a partial retrospective in celebration of the new movies New York premiere, Today will be shown every evening from Friday, March 17 through Thursday, March 23 at the DCTV Firehouse Cinema for Documentary Film, with each screening followed by one of Friedrichs...

Watch Michelle Yeohs Mom Tearful Reaction to Her Daughters Historic Oscar Win

Actress Michelle Yeoh made history with her historic win as Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards. Yeoh became the first Asian woman to get the award thanks to her work on Everything Everywhere All at Once. While many people were rooting for her in the room, starting with her castmate and good friend Jamie Lee Curtis, someone very special was cheering for her from thousands of miles awayher mom. Now, her moving reaction to Yeoh's win has warmed hearts around the globe.

During her acceptance speech, Yeoh gave her mother, and all the moms around the world, an uplifting shout out. I have to dedicate this to my mom, all the moms in the world, because they are really the superheroes and without them, none of us would be here tonight, the actress said. Shes 84 and Im taking this home to her. Shes watching right now in Malaysia, KL, with my family and friends. I love you guys, Im bringing this home to you.

Meanwhile in Malaysia, where the Oscars ceremony fell on a Monday morning, Yeoh's mother Janet watched it all unfold live, surrounded by friends, family members, government officials, and fans. Footage of the moment actress Halle Berry read Yeoh's name aloud shows Yeoh's mom weeping with joy and smiling as she throws her arms up in the air. Some attendants then get close to embrace her. The other people in the room fist-bump and cheer for Yeoh.

I so love my daughter and she has made Malaysia proud. Malaysia Boleh (Malaysia Can)! Janet said during a news conference after the viewing, according to the Associated Press. She also added that she was very proud of her little princess and recalled that the actress wanted to be a ballerina before joining the film industry. Once the ceremony was over, Yeoh FaceTimed her mom to show her the trophy.

In addition to her mother, Yeoh had other fierce supporters in her family. Her niece Vicki was sure her aunt would be the winner. It was such a jaw-dropping moment, she...

Over 40,000 people have signed a petition urging New York City to help Hot Dog King Dan Rossi, a local celebrity whose cart has been stationed outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 15 years. Its one of the most coveted vending spots in New York, but Rossi says that poor city oversight has created too much competition along the Fifth Avenue stretch and ultimately forced him to sleep onsite or lose his place.

In an in...

All images Kin Coedel, shared with permission

Nestled between the Himalayas and the Taklamakan Desert, the Tibetan Plateau is sometimes referred to as the third pole. The vast region harbors the largest source of fresh water outside the arctic and supplies 20 percent of the global population with the vital resource. Due to rising temperatures, though, these stores are under threat. The plateau is the fastest-warming region on the planet, and as the Himalayan glaciers melt and infrastructure projects crop up across the landscape, the people living in the area are forced to migrate.

Throughout five visits to the plateau in 2021, Kin Coedel created an intimate series of photographs that document the lives of several nomadic communities. Titled Dyal Thak, a Tibetan word that translates to common thread, the images depict people with profound ties to the land and animals, particularly the long-haired yak, a long-essential source of food, clothing, and economic production. The rapidly progressing effects of the climate crisis are changing agricultural patterns and thus the natural cycles that have been part of life for centuries.

...

Even if Florence didnt represent the absolute pinnacle of human civilization at the end of the thirteenth century, it had to have been a strong contender for the position. What the city lacked, however, was a cathedral befitting its status. Hence the construction, which commenced in 1296, of just such a holy structure, in accordance with ambitious plans drawn up by architect Arnolfo di Cambio. But when di Cambio died in 1302, work came more or less to a stop for nearly half a century. Construction resumed in 1344 under Giotto, whose own death three years later left the project to his assistant Andrea Pisano, who was himself succeeded by Francesco Talenti, Giovanni di Lapo Ghini, Alberto Arnoldi, Giovanni dAmbrogio, Neri di Fioravanti, and Andrea Orcagna.

None of these architects, however astute, managed to finish the cathedral: in 1418, it still had a gaping hole on top where its dome should have been, and in any case no viable design or engineering procedure to construct one. So they had a competition, and everybody was invited to submit their projects, says Youtuber Manuel Bravo, who tells the story in the video at the top of the post.

The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University opens its 2023 MFA Thesis Exhibitions, taking place March 15May 6, with a series of group shows by 32 students exploring themes of temporality, location and space, symbols, ritual and social relations, and the connection of parts to a whole.

Collectively, their works represent diverse, discrete disciplines as well as an amalgamation of practices, featuring glass, fibers, printmaking, digital images, mixed media, painting, and more. In many pieces, the students allude to the urgent need to address impending global reckonings and how they might affect change through their work.

I am heartened by the integrity and generosity of this class in the face of the challenges that face society. They are serious in their commitment to shaping a better world through their work, said Associate Dean and Graduate Studies Director Chad Curtis.

Tylers annual MFA Thesis shows the culmination of two years of intensive artistic and critical development e...

People Cant Get Enough of Andrew Garfields Smile at the Oscars

By the end of the Oscars, there are always numerous moments worth talking about, and this year was no exception. Before the awards were even handed out, British actor Andrew Garfield became an instant internet sensation when the camera cut to him during the monologue and he flashed an awkward and very meme-able smile.

The hilarious expression was shown during Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue, where the comedian and TV host brought up last year's infamous slap incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock. He playfully mentioned that at this year's Academy Awards, there are plenty of celebrities who play characters capable of protecting Kimmel from an assailant. You're going to have to get through the heavyweight champ, Adonis Creed [Michael B. Jordan], before you get to me; youre going to have to do battle with Michelle Yeoh before you get to me; you're going to have to beat the Mandalorian before you get to me; you are going to have to tangle with Spider-Man, he said.

It was at the very end that the camera cut to Garfield, who played the Marvel hero in The Amazing Spider-Man series between 2012 and 2021. However, the crowdwho was likely expecting to see Tom Holland's face on the screendid not clap right away, so Garfield filled the silence with his uncomfortable, slightly apologetic grin. And people online were instantly charmed by the expression. Everyone else is ready to go and then there's Andrew Garfield regretting every decision he's ever made in his life, help, says one Twitter user. Another person comments: New memes unlocked, thanks to Andrew Garfield and Pedro Pascal.

This is also the second Oscars in a row where Garfield has unintentionally become a meme by being himself. Last year, he was photographed texting on his phone very soon after the slap. This year, it's because of his toothy grin. Hopefully, he continues the trend i...

This might make me sound like a jerk, but Im all for teaching folks who are ALWAYS late some lessons.

But thats just my opinion

Check out this story and see if you think this woman was wrong for making her friend who is chronically late miss a seminar.

AITA for making my chronically late friend miss her seminar?

My friend [25F] is constantly late for everything.

Be it work-related or fun activities, she will always be at least 15-20 minute late. She does not have a car, and so oftentimes I [25M] will pick her up from her house (I work at a university and she is a PhD student there, and her place is along the way for me).

Last time I offered her a ride to work, she ended up being 20 minutes late after Ive already arrived at her place. Because of that, I ended up being late for work. She is always very apologetic about her lateness, but never changes.

This week she was supposed to give a seminar at the university which is a crucial part of her PhD program. She asked me if I could give her a ride to work that day. I told her sure, but that I was picking her up at 8 AM and she must be there exactly at 8 AM, and not a minute later. She chuckled, but I told her I wasnt joking, and she promised that she will be there.

The morning of her seminar, I drove to her place and got there at 7:55, and texted her that I was here, and she told me should would be out in just a minute. At 8:00, there was no indication that she would come out (and she didnt text anything), so at 8:01, I drove off.

At around 8:20, she called me asking me where I was. I told her I was at work and that I wasnt joking when I told her that she had to be ready right that minute. She started screaming and crying over the phone, and told...

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Now more than ever, it's important to support the things that we enjoy. If one of them is My Modern Met, please consider supporting our site by joining our Membership program. In doing so, youll help our editorial team do what we do bestchampion the work of artists, photographers, designers, and makers from around the world. It's no secret that publishing is going through a tough time, and your contributions allow us to continue our mission of spreading this special type of creativity and positivity online.

There are many benefits to becoming a member of My Modern Met. Youll receive an ad-free reading experience and an exclusive monthly newsletter that gives you a taste of what our staff is reading, watching, and listening to (beyond My Modern Met). In addition, youll get a 15% discount on all your purchases at My Modern Met Store and a 15% discount on all My Modern Met Academy classes. And if youre looking for help with your own art, design, or photography, weve got you covered; members receive an e-book chock-full of helpful resources.

The internet looks different than it did just a few years ago. A lot of art and culture-focused websites have disappeared. My Modern Met is proud to still be around, creating original content, and having in-depth interviews with creatives around the world. So, will you join us today? Memberships start as low as $10/month with student and educator discounts available.

Visit our Membership page to learn more.

Please consider joining My Modern Met's Membership program. By becoming a member, you're helping sup...

Incredible Winners of the 2023 British Wildlife Photography Awards

A Look to the Future by Charlie Page. British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and Urban Wildlife | Winner.
Animal: Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Location: Lee Valley Park, England
I knew this area was reliable for foxes, and I wanted a shot with the industrial backdrop. One day when setting up my camera with a remote shutter release, a fox approached from my left. Hesitant about what to do, I stayed still, and surprisingly the fox stopped right in my frame. I took the shot but was confused why it had come so close. In hindsight, this encounter probably tells the story more than the photo itself. Wildlife has become used to us encroaching on them. I think the felled tree and longing look on the foxs face portray this tragedy perfectly. I hope that all wildlife photography doesnt look like this in years to come.

Amateur and professional photographers celebrated the United Kingdom's incredible wildlife in the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA). Over 13,000 photographs were submitted, which were then narrowed down to an impressive group of winners.

In the adult competition, Charlie Page was named the overall winner after his image of a red fox juxtaposed against an industrial background was judged the best in the competition. Page's evocative photo also won the Urban Wildlife category.

I knew this area was frequented by foxes, and I wanted to take an image with the industrial backdrop to show the devastation caused to this local woodland that the fox calls home, shared Page. I hope that wildlife photographers arent faced with similar scenes in years to come.

The youth competition, which has three age categories, was won by Billy Evans-Freke for his charming image of a tawny owlet resting in a...

Over the past year, Kalmyk American poet Sasha Stiles has become the public face of the burgeoning world of poetry NFTs, which circulate and monetize poems outside of poetry books and magazines. She

All images Josh Gluckstein, shared with permission

Since childhood, London-based artist Josh Gluckstein has been fascinated by the incredible diversity of our planets wildlife and inspired to make sculptures of animals from found materials. He often uses discarded or recycled materials like clothing from thrift shops or wood from old furniture, and an important aspect of his practice is concern for the environment. I have travelled through Asia, Latin America, and East Africa, and have been fortunate enough to have some incredible wildlife encounters, he says. However, on my travels, even in the most remote locations, I was shocked by the huge amounts of plastic waste.

Much of the garbage that washes up on shorelines around the world is due to an unregulated system in which richer countries export waste to developing countries because it is often cheaper than developing better infrastructures to handle it. Many of the thousands of shipping containers exported each year are often dumped illegally. Gluckstein shares:

I remember going to the Galapagos Islands and visiting a beach famous for a large population of sea lions. It was indeed incredible to see them in the wild, but on every inch of sand not covered by sea lions, there were plastic bottles and cans. It was a heartbreaking sight. I knew I wanted to create artwork that didnt create waste and harm our planet.

Gluckstein fashions life-like portraits of elephants, primates, pangolins, and big cats out of cardboard by tearing, cutting, and gluing pieces together into expressive visages, sometimes applying thin washes of paint for added depth and detail. He often works on...