The Sony World Photography Awards 2022 winners have been announced, with Australian photographer Adam Ferguson taking the top title of Photographer of the Year. Ferguson won for his Migrantes series of black and white self-portraits of migrants as they waited to cross the border from Mexico into the United States.

In addition to the grand title of Photographer of the Year, The Sony World Photography Awards recognizes professional photographers in other categories including the Student Photographer of the Year, Youth Photographer of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Photography.

Photographed in collaboration with the subjects, Ferguson set up the scene for each image by mounting a medium-format camera on a tripod with a cable release and then stepped back, allowing the individuals to choose the moment of capture and participate in the process of documenting their lives.

“What Adam Ferguson has done on the U.S./Mexico border with migrant families and individuals is deeply compassionate and moving,” said Mike Trow, Chair of the 2021 Professional Competition when the winners were announced on April 12. “This set of portraits speaks volumes about how moral intentionality and respect can help avoid some of that sense of manipulation and invasion of the private which photography is often accused of.”

Trow adds: “By giving his subjects the shutter release, Adam hands a certain power to the sitter to make that decision on how to be perceived. These photographs are beautiful, meaningful and kind.”

Said Ferguson of his win: “I’m grateful to the brave and resilient individuals who agreed to work with me, and receive this award on behalf of them also. Winning the Photographer of the Year award gives this story another life. It allows a new audience to connect with the important stories of the individuals who shared their story with me.”

The title of Open Photographer of the Year was awarded to UK photographer Scott Wilson; Student Photographer of the Year, Ezra Bohm of the Netherlands); Youth Photographer of the Year went to Tri Nguyen of Vietnam; and Outstanding Contribution to Photography was awarded to Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky.

Full List of 2022 Winners:

• Architecture & Design: Domagoj Burilović (Croatia) for his series Dorf
• Creative: Alnis takle (Latvia) for his series Mellow Apocalypse
• Documentary Projects: Jan Grarup (Denmark) for his series The Children of the Financial Collapse in Venezuela
• Environment: Shunta Kimura (Japan) for his series Living in the Transition
• Landscape: Lorenzo Poli (Italy) for his series Life on Earth
• Portfolio: Hugh Fox (United Kingdom for his submission Portfolio
• Portraiture: Adam Ferguson (Australia) for his series Migrantes
• Sport: Ricardo Teles (Brazil) for his series Kuarup
• Still Life: Haruna Ogata (Japan) & Jean-Etienne Portail (France) for their series Constellation
• Wildlife & Nature: Winner Milan Radisics (Hungary) for his series The Fox’s Tale

Winners were revealed in a celebratory announcement video featuring interviews and reactions from the winning photographers themselves. Their work will be exhibited at Somerset House in London, England, starting today, April 13 through May 2, 2022.

The Sony World Photography Awards 2022 virtual exhibition is available to view here.