Photographers from around the Organisation of Islamic Council (OIC) countries were among the winners of the National Awards programme.

Photographers from or working in eight OIC countries were among the 65 winners of the World Photography Organisation’s Sony World Photography Awards 2022.

Winners ranged from Kazi Arifuzzaman’s photograph of Bangladeshi bricklayers to Kuwaiti Mohammad Mirza’s extraordinary photograph of an elephant, to Pakistani Yawar Abbas’ photo of the desert in Skardu, and Emirati Salem Alsawafi’s drone shot of flamingos.

The National Awards programme is an initiative set up by the World Photography Organisation and Sony to support local photographic communities around the world, with 61 countries taking part this year.

Over 340,000 images from 211 territories were submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2022 and over 170,000 were entered to the Open competition (from which the National Awards winner was selected).

Copyright: © Kazi Arifuzzaman, Bangladesh, Winner, National Awards, Architecture, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

Copyright: © Mohammad Mirza, Kuwait, Winner, National Awards, Natural World & Wildlife, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographing a giant tusker like Craig was a big challenge for me. Getting so close, within a few metres from this big bull, and shooting from a very low angle with a wide lens, requires some courage! After five days with several attempts at photographing Craig in an open space, I managed to get this shot face to face, with mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.

Copyright: © Mazin Alhassan, Saudi Arabia, Winner, National Awards, Landscape, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

An astrophotography shot at the Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest geyser basin in Yellowstone. It is located near the northwest edge of Yellowstone Caldera near Norris Junction and on the intersection of three major faults.

Copyright: © Yawar Abbas, Pakistan, Winner, National Awards, Travel, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

In the light from this spectacular sunset the cold desert at Skardu looks like a Golden Snake.

Copyright: © Tshabalala Bongani, South Africa, Winner, National Awards, Portraiture, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

Montsho, meaning ‘black’, is a word used in South Africa to make fun of a dark-skinned person. This photograph explores the emotional effects of childhood teasing: depression and low self-esteem. Montsho opens conversations around the representation of the black body and black lives, challenging the idea that blackness is homogenous. For me this photograph is about both destruction and preservation; it’s about what we choose to embrace after going through trauma.

Copyright: © Yih Chang Chew, Malaysia, Winner, National Awards, Architecture, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards
The 13.5-km Penang bridge highway is the second-longest bridge in Malaysia. It was built in 1985 and until 2014 it was the only road connection between Peninsular Malaysia and Penang Island. Here it’s seen from the island end.

Copyright: © Sherif Salem, Egypt, Winner, National Awards, Street Photography, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

A morning scene from the countryside where antique cars add a classic touch. The photo was taken with a 50mm lens on a photo tour in September, in the village of Idku in northern Egypt.

Copyright: © Metha Meiryna, Indonesia, Winner, National Awards, Portraiture, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards

In Bali, dancing is part of local traditions and religious ceremonies. One of the most beautiful dances is Rejang. Dressed in great costumes with headdresses, this dance is traditionally performed by young women at a ceremony in the inner courtyard of a temple. This dance is also one of the holiest sacrificial dances, performed to entertain visiting gods and spirits.