A big thank you to everyone who entered one or more images into the SIGMA Art Photographer of the Year competition 2024. We had some truly stunning entries and it’s been inspiring to see the creative vision and technical ability of SIGMA Art lens users and what they have been able to achieve with the 30+ primes and zooms in our Art line.
A shortlist has now been drawn up for each of the four categories — Our Planet, People and Portraits, Light and Shadow, and Urban World – with 12 images selected for each. A huge congratulations to the photographers who have made these shortlists, which you can view below. This shortlists will now go to our four judges who will collectively choose an overall winner in each category. This will be announced on 20 September.
There will also be one overall winner, which will be chosen from the four category winners by SIGMA CEO Kazuto Yamaki.
Thanks again to everyone who entered.
This timeline should give you all the important dates you need to know before entering. There’s lots more information in our Terms and Conditions at the bottom of the page, or you can email us with any questions on info@sigmauk.com.
Click on the button below each category to enter. 4MB max per file, JPEG only, max two entries per category.
All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm on 15 August. Late submissions will not be considered.
Find out if your image has been shortlisted within its category.
The four category winners will be announced after judging, and one overall winner.
The category winner can select an Art lens of their choice from the SIGMA range.
The category winner can select an Art lens of their choice from the SIGMA range.
The category winner can select an Art lens of their choice from the SIGMA range.
The category winner can select an Art lens of their choice from the SIGMA range.
On top of the category prize, the overall winner can choose two further Art lenses from the SIGMA range.
The aim of this category is to showcase the breathtaking beauty and diversity of our natural world as seen through the lens. From sweeping landscapes to intimate close-ups of flora and fauna, this category celebrates the wonders of our planet in all its forms. Photographers are encouraged to explore the intricate ecosystems, stunning vistas, and unique habitats that make our Earth so extraordinary. Whether it’s an imposing mountain range, a vibrant coastal scene or a tranquil forest scene, images submitted to this category should evoke a sense of awe and appreciation for the remarkable beauty and fragility of our natural environment.
Note: Images are displayed without credit at this stage as the judging process is still underway.
The ‘People and Portraits’ category is all about capturing the essence of humanity through photography. Whether it’s a candid street shot or a carefully composed portrait, this category celebrates the diversity of human emotions, stories, and connections. From fleeting moments of joy to quiet displays of strength, photographers are encouraged to showcase the richness and complexity of the human experience. Through their lenses, they can highlight cultural diversity, personal narratives, and the unique bonds that tie us together, creating compelling portraits that resonate with viewers.
Note: Images are displayed without credit at this stage as the judging process is still underway.
This category invites photographers to capture the essence of city life. From bustling streets and towering skyscrapers to quiet corners and hidden gems, it celebrates diverse and vibrant urban environments. Photographers are encouraged to explore the unique architecture, street culture, and human interactions that define the urban experience. Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of daily life, the beauty of urban decay, or moments of quiet amidst the chaos, entries in this category should reflect the dynamic and multi-faceted nature of city living.
Note: Images are displayed without credit at this stage as the judging process is still underway.
This category celebrates the interplay between light and darkness in photography. It invites photographers to explore the dramatic contrasts, patterns, and textures created by the interplay of light and shadow. From stark silhouettes to intricate chiaroscuro compositions, this category encourages creative experimentation with both lighting techniques and natural light. Photographers are challenged to use light and shadow to evoke mood, atmosphere, and depth. Images could portray the subject realistically or as part of a more abstract interpretation.
Note: Images are displayed without credit at this stage as the judging process is still underway.
Joe Cornish
Joe is one of the most important and widely-respected British photographers of all time. His work over the past 40 years has been extremely influential, focusing chiefly on Yorkshire, but also further afield across the UK and abroad.
He is widely published, including providing the imagery for some 30 travel books. He also produces calendars and fine-art prints. His work is strongly influenced by his passion as an environmentalist, showcasing the remarkable beauty and fragility of our natural environment.
He has been involved in the Distinction panels of the RPS and has been on the judging team of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
joecornishgallery.co.uk
Colin Prior
Colin is one of the most influential and widely-published landscape photographers of his generation. Working mostly in Scotland’s upland regions, but also abroad, and most notably in the Karakoram mountains in Asia and, he has produced a wide body of work over the past 40 years showcased in a range of books, calendars and fine art prints.
In 2020, Merrell published Fragile — Birds, Eggs & Habitats, which was followed in 2021 by The Karakoram — Ice Mountain Of Pakistan, the most glaciated region on the planet outside Antarctica and the Arctic. His earlier books, include Living Tribes and The World’s Wild Places, were published internationally by Constable.
colinprior.co.uk
Holly Wren
Holly is a leading commercial advertising photographer, specialising in portraits and lifestyle imagery. She loves to work on location, telling the narrative through the environment as well as the sitter. She is passionate about light, whether natural or artificial, or the lack of, and it’s ability to create stunning images with atmosphere.
Based in London and Brighton, she works all around the UK with charities, commercial organisations, individuals and celebrities to create content for marketing, advertising, TV and social media. Holly recently worked with an indigenous tribe in the mountains of Oaxaca to document their Day of the Dead festival.
hollywren.com
Benedict Brain
Benedict is a UK-based photographer, journalist and author. He balances his personal practice with writing about photography and running photography workshops and enrichment programmes. His first book, You Will Be Able to Take Great Photos By the End of this Book was published by Ilex Press (Octopus Publishing) in 2023.
Benedict is often seen on the judging panel of prestigious photo competitions and in 2020 he founded Potato Photographer of the Year. Benedict travels internationally as a public speaker talking about the art and craft of photography and sits on The Royal Photographic Society’s Licentiate distinctions panel.
benedictbrain.com
Kazuto Yamaki
Kazuto Yamaki is the owner and CEO of SIGMA Corporation. He is the son of Michihiro Yamaki, who founded SIGMA in 1961. Not only does Mr Yamaki oversee the concept, design, manufacturing, marketing and sales of each and every SIGMA product, but he is also a keen photographer with a deep passion for imaging.
The Global Vision range of lenses, which includes the Art, Contemporary and Sports lines, was introduced by Mr Yamaki shortly after he became CEO in 2012, so he great enjoys seeing the images that photographers are able to achieve with these lenses.
Mr Yamaki will not be a category judge, but will decide which of the four category winners will take the SIGMA Art Photographer of the Year overall winner prize 2024.
Please read these carefully to ensure your submission complies with the terms of entry.
The Promoter is Sigma Imaging UK, 1 Little Mundells, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 1EW, hereinafter referred to as Sigma UK.
1. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that they have read and will abide by Sigma UK’s Terms & Conditions. By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to these rules, that their entry complies with these rules, and that they will be liable to the Promoter and their licensees in respect of any damages or losses incurred as a breach of the rules.
2. The Promoter reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify or remove any entry that does not comply with the rules or the spirit of the awards, at any stage of the awards.
3. Entries
3.1. No purchase is necessary to win or enter.
3.2. All entries must be submitted via Sigma’s online competition platform at www.sigmauk.com/sapoty
3.3. Sigma Art Photographer of the Year 2024 is free to enter and is open to photographers of any skill level, aged 18 or over.
3.4. Entry to Sigma Art Photographer of the Year is open to UK residents only.
3.5. Employees or agents of Sigma UK, their families or other persons connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter.
3.6. Proof of eligibility must be provided upon request. Use of a false name or other false details will result in disqualification.
3.7. Participants can submit a maximum of two entries per category.
4. Images
4.1. Images submitted to the Sigma Art Photographer of the Year competition must be submitted in JPEG format at a maximum size 4 megabytes (MB) per image, with the EXIF data intact. If shortlisted, entrants must be able to supply images as original JPEG or RAW files.
4.2. Images can be submitted anytime during the active competition window, until midnight on the last day of the submission deadline.
4.3. Images can be taken on any camera, however must be used with a Sigma ‘Art’ series lens. A full range of Sigma Art lenses can be found at www.sigmauk.com. Images captured with a non-Sigma ‘Art’ lens are not permitted.
4.4. No AI generated imagery is permitted to be entered into the awards.
4.5. Imagery that is unlawful, harmful, vulgar, obscene, damaging to other’s privacy, racist, classist or otherwise objectionable is not permitted and will be disqualified at Sigma UK’s sole discretion.
4.6. Minor post processing is allowed however images must not distort reality through addition/ removal of subjects/objects to or from the image. Image-wide manipulation of digital files that include; HDR, focus stacking, cropping, noise reduction, dodging, burning, dust spot removal, sharpening, contrast, tone, and multiple exposure layering (provided that the Images were all taken in the same session in the same location) are permitted. This list is exhaustive.
4.7 All Images must be free from the addition of false or unrelated data that does not originate from the original photograph.
5. Judging and Prizes
5.1. Entries will be judged by our panel of experts. Please refer to our judges page for more information on the judging panel.
5.2. The judges’ decisions are final and binding in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the decisions.
5.3. The winner of each of the 4 categories will be awarded a Sigma Art lens of their choice, the overall winner will receive a further 2 Sigma Art lenses of their choice (each lens must be different).
5.4. The shortlisted entries will be contacted via email and invited submit original JPEG/RAW images where required.
5.6. Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the winner. If the winner cannot be contacted within 28 days of the competition winner’s announcement, Sigma UK reserves the right to offer the prize to the runner-up.
5.7. The promoter is excluded from liability for any loss, damage or injury which might occur to any of the winners arising from their acceptance of the prizes. Entrants indemnify the Promoter for all liabilities, including legal costs, in relation to any action or complaint taken by any third party against the Promoter in relation to the entrant’s photograph(s).
6. Copyright
6.1. All imagery MUST be the exclusive work of the submitting photographer and may not include any element that is the copyright of another. The Copyright for each image entered will remain with the submitting photographer.
6.2. Sigma UK reserves the right to ask entrants to supply a high-resolution JPEG or RAW version of any submission (with metadata embedded) to verify any images it suspects may not be the person’s own work. Anyone found to be entering images belonging to others will be immediately disqualified.
6.3. By entering the Competition and submitting your image(s), you hereby grant the Promoter and its partners a non-exclusive, irrevocable license to use your photograph(s) for any purpose connected with the Competition, including (but not limited to), promoting the Competition within printed and online media, use in press, promotional and marketing materials, social media networks and for the promotion of any future photographic competition in both print and online media.
6.4. Images submitted in the Competition will be credited wherever possible, when used by Sigma UK.
7. Personal Information
7.1. All entrants agree to participate in related publicity and to the use of their name and likeness for the purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity without additional compensation.
7.2. Any personal data required for the sending of prizes or acquiring images/videos are collected and processed under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679. We do not disclose data to any third parties unless disclosure is necessary for the fulfilment of a service or prize; you have specifically given consent for a particular service; or we have a legitimate interest in disclosing data. For more information about the kind of personal data we collect, read our full Privacy and Personal Data Policy.
7.3. It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that any image submitted is law-abiding and does not breach the General Data Protection Regulation.
8. The promoter reserves the right to cancel this Competition at any time and without notice.
9. The competition is subject to the general Privacy Policy Privacy policy – SIGMA UK
10. Sigma UK reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time and without notice.
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