One of the biggest events in the World of Photography is the aptly named World Photo.  World Photo London 2013 is underway now at Somerset House.

This two-week event includes numerous talks, exhibitions, lectures, prizes, and such but its centrepiece is, of course, Sony World Photography Awards and the related exhibitions.

Sony broadly divides entries between a Professional and an Open section, each of which is subdivided into categories.  While one may expect images of the highest quality in each division, the staggering variety in every sense of the word of images in the Open section has to be seen to be believed.

Martina Biccheri’s win in the Architecture category is an interesting one.  How and why did such a simple image win the top prize?

First, Biccheri photograph is a simple, not-so-simple, composition with lateral symmetry.  The texture of, and the fall of light on, the edifice gives it life.  However, the real ‘trick’ behind this image is the combination of an obvious, heavy diagonal (the shadow) and the Rule of Thirds.  This combination is what introduces – besides a perception of depth – a pleasing imbalance to the lateral symmetry.

Compare the riot of colours and dynamism in the very next image to the sedate, austere, intellectual appeal of Biccheri’s study – a great example of said variety.

Gilbert Yu’s photograph of an Asian festive celebration in the nighttime is a triumph of exposure, catching the moment, and, probably, some post-processing.  It’s easy to see without any analysis that the joy and energy emanating from Yu’s image won the Arts and Culture category.  Note, though, that the line of the merrymaking participants in the background stretching to the right side of the image provides both depth and balance, setting off the main subject in the foreground, besides conveying the true scale of the festivities.

The very next image, Hoang Hiep Nguyen’s winner in the Enhanced category, is a favourite.  This art photo of a little girl in the wind is a winner in so many aspects: mood, motion, hues, tints, composition, story.  This, of course, is a ‘concept photo’ that’s brilliantly executed and post-processed.

One compositional point is worth mentioning.  The figure of the girl divides the frame vertically into a third and two-thirds and the dark sky, grey cloud, and beige grass divide the frame horizontally into three one-thirds.  Also note the effect of wind and movement throughout the image.

View the many winners in the other categories and see which your favourite is.