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Sony World Photography Awards Shortlist: Can You Tell The Professionals From The Amateurs?

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First Posted: 2/02/2012 14:33 Updated: 2/02/2012 14:59

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A well-dressed man laughing on the London underground, a break dancer mid-body spin and a child wincing as he's handed a gun are just some of the subjects of the shortlisted images in this year’s Sony World Photography Awards.

The world’s premier photography competition has released their shortlisted images in both the amateur and professional categories, after whittling them down from over 112,000 entries sent in from 171 different countries.

As ever, the strength of the collection lies in the sheer breadth of the locations, subjects and styles on show.

Everything from the fall of Gaddafi to remote sheep farmers in Iceland come together, portraying both the historic moments and every day minutiae of human life over the past 12 months.

The shortlisted images will be exhibited at a major show in central London in April to coincide with the announcement of the overall winner.

Astrid Merget, the creative director of the awards, told us: "It seems that each year the strength of submissions and calibre of photographers raises a few notches.

"Our juries take their job of selection very seriously and do not entertain anything which does not meet the standard that has been set over the past years for our awards. Receiving a Sony World Photography Award shortlist commendation should not be an easy feat, but rather a demonstration of true skill, artistry and distinction."

For a bit of fun, we want to find out if you can tell the difference between the amateur efforts and the professional shots.

Take a look through ‘Gallery One’ and ‘Gallery Two’ below, then vote for which one you believe is the professional collection.

We’ll tell you the answer soon…

VOTE:

Quick Poll

Which Is The Professional Collection?

VOTE

GALLERY ONE:

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Rona Chang, US

Shortlist, Landscape

Sony World Photography Awards 2012
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GALLERY TWO:

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Victoria Bolshemennik, Israel

Shortlist, People

Sony World Photography Awards 2012
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A well-dressed man laughing on the London underground, a break dancer mid-body spin and a child wincing as he's handed a gun are just some of the subjects of the shortlisted images in this year’s So...
A well-dressed man laughing on the London underground, a break dancer mid-body spin and a child wincing as he's handed a gun are just some of the subjects of the shortlisted images in this year’s So...
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KeN61
5 Fans
10:21 PM on 02/19/2012
As a amateur photographer, gallery 2 is by far the more inspirational, and there for is probably the amateur one. Gallery 1 seems to be more prescriptive as in following a formula that is expected of judges. I base this observation on a recent visit to the national portrait gallery and the photography on exhibition with in, it was dire and a complete let down. No doubt the art elite who judge these things will tell me I don't have the education to make that observation, but I was not by far a loan voice. If however gallery two is the pro gallery then I think there is hope for art photography yet and I will be happy that I was proved wrong.
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Isissy
18 Fans
10:02 PM on 02/19/2012
Who cares who took them.
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hatassa
2 Fans
07:44 PM on 02/19/2012
And these won awards??? Most of them are dire...
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jamesball22
0 Fans
06:57 PM on 02/19/2012
Well it would appear that Gallery 1 is the professional collection as repeatedly pointed out by "monkey brand" but Gallery 2 has the edge for me, as amateur photographers they should be very proud! Good effort :-)
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SallyCycle
41 Fans
05:00 PM on 02/19/2012
Speaking as a professional photographer it is difficult to say on an initial look. However, if you look at the context of some of the shots then it appears that 2 is the pro gallery. That said, there are many, many truly excellent 'non-professional' photographers who's work could easily be published; and conversely, there are many, many 'pro-photographers' work which shouldn't be published.

The only difference between a pro and an amateur is that the pro gets paid. It's not necessarily about technical excellence but being in the right place at the right time; and ideally with the right equipment ~ but that said being there is the most important thing.
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monkey brand
0 Fans
05:15 PM on 02/19/2012
it's easy if you spot the caption at Gal 1, pic 6 "professional shortlist". Sorry I'm spoiling the game :-)
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monkey brand
0 Fans
04:59 PM on 02/19/2012
bit of a clue here, first gallery, picture 6 (4 chairs in the road by smashed up building), caption reads "professional shortlist". Or is this a red herring or a huffpost fail!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
chrisctpaul
Things can only get better
17 Fans
08:40 PM on 02/19/2012
Pahaha - FAIL!!

For sure gallery one is the professional gallery. Helen Thompson has a photograph included in this gallery and she is a professional photographer.
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Anthony100
3 Fans
04:54 PM on 02/19/2012
* Gallery 2 amatuers.
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Anthony100
3 Fans
04:53 PM on 02/19/2012
Its very hard to tell, because there is little in the way of being amatuerish. Not many of the photo's here appears to be taken with a simple click & go camera. But I would guess Gallery 2. Because I'm no professional but feel i could more or less achieve the shots in Gallery 2 :o)
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Daimm
22 Fans
03:55 PM on 02/19/2012
Both galleries contained many fine photos, that any photographer, anater or professional, would be proud of. They were of good definition, eyecatching, with an fine eye for layout and pattern.
There was one exception. Two boys at a swing, in front of a lovely mountain background.
There was something very wrong with this. It looks to me as if the photo was taken on programmed auto. However it was set, th shutter speed was too slow. It failed to stop the movement, leaving the boy on the swing blurred, whilst the other boy standing alongside was sharp.
For me this completely ruined the shot. Professional can use movement blur to enhance the atmosphere of a motion shot, but not here. It looked to me like a simple technical error, taking the eye off the main subject and transfering it to the less interesting stationary boy. The overall lighting was also slightly flat.
I think it unlikely that a pro would have submitted such a shot. This was the only shot that seemed to be amateurish in either gallery, so Gallery 2 must be the amateur selection.
This was the only shot in either
Everyone makes mistakes, but a pro would
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proberts46
0 Fans
04:22 PM on 02/19/2012
Why would you want to freeze the subject ? Motion blur can enhance a photo dramatically. For me, theres not enough of blur on the boy on the swing, but i`m sure a lot of professionals would be pleased to get a photo like that.
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proberts46
0 Fans
03:37 PM on 02/19/2012
Being a photographer myself, only amateur at moment, i`m going to say gallery 1 is prefessionals because a lot of amateurs that i know, including myself put a lot more thought and time into getting a good photo. Will be interesting to see which is which :-)
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laurenbell123
0 Fans
03:10 PM on 02/19/2012
most of the pics in gallery 1 look like pictures ud find on an average digi cam
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robbins1940
20 Fans
02:49 PM on 02/19/2012
Who allows a child to get tattooed? I assume it is photoshopped in or temporary tattoo.
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genesis816
19 Fans
02:39 PM on 02/19/2012
Is it me? Or my equipment? All I get is a really wishy-washy set of images (like looking through greaseproof paper) with those damned dots in the centre going round and round all the time. No matter how long I wait for the images to load. Anybody out there any ideas please?
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mossy835
4 Fans
03:26 PM on 02/19/2012
Me to, thought it was my end.
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genesis816
19 Fans
03:49 PM on 02/19/2012
Thanks for that. Looks like technical failure by AOL. At least we know. Cheers.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Heavenhound
Trying to find the way that works.
157 Fans
02:44 PM on 02/17/2012
Gallery 2 is the pros. Some of the pics in that gallery required expensive equipment of a kind that amateurs, unless very rich, aren't likely to invest in. But many of the images in Gallery 1 are of high enough quality to match that of the pros.
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monkey brand
0 Fans
05:09 PM on 02/19/2012
so you missed the caption at gallery 1, pic 6 "professional shortlist"!!
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jamesball22
0 Fans
06:53 PM on 02/19/2012
Have you got nothing better to do? How many times are you going to point it out? If you're sorry for ruining the game as said above then why do you persist? Get a grip!!!
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lourich
1 Fans
08:28 PM on 02/11/2012
All amazing pics, would be extremely proud to have taken any one of them! I voted gallery 2 but there wasn't much to choose between them x
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