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    20 Extraordinary Photos That Won The Sony World Photography Award

    Here are the powerful winning pictures from the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards in all their photographic glory.

    Photographer of the Year: John Moore, United States

    In the summer of 2014, Monrovia, Liberia, became the epicenter of the West African Ebola epidemic, the worst in history. Although previous rural outbreaks were more easily contained, once the virus began spreading in Monrovia's dense urban environment, the results were described by Doctors Without Borders as "catastrophic." As President Sirleaf declared a state of emergency, photographer John Moore was there to document the harrowing sights.

    Open Photographer of the Year: Armin Appel, Germany

    "I took this image while paragliding over Räumliches Bildungszentrum, in Biberach an der Riss. It was an early morning in May, it had rained all night, and it was perfect conditions to get good contrasts. I took five flights between 2013 – 2014 trying to get the perfect shot, with perfect contrast and shadows, until I finally got it this morning in May 2014." —Armin Appel

    Student Focus Photographer of the Year

    Winner: Svetlana Blagodareva, Russia



    Youth Photographer of the Year

    Winner: Yong Lin Tan, Malaysia

    “This is the back alley of my grandmother’s house in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. I shot this during Chinese New Year last year when the sky is the clearest and brightest with stars.” —Yong Lin Tan

    The Winners of the 2015 Professional Category

    The 2015 Professional category is aimed at professional photographers around the globe and is selected from different genres of photography.

    Arts and Culture: Aristide Economopoulos, United States

    Travel: Bernhard Lang, United States

    Architecture: Cosmin Bumbutz, Romania

    Still Life: Donald Weber, Canada

    People: Giovanni Troilo, Italy

    Current Affairs: John Moore, United States

    Lifestyle: Li Fan, China

    Sport: Riccardo Bononi, Italy

    Portraiture: Ruben Salgado Escudero, Spain

    Conceptual: Rahul Talukder, Bangladesh

    Contemporary Issues: Scott Typaldos, Switzerland

    Campaign: Sebastian Gil Miranda, France

    Landscape: Simon Norfolk, United Kingdom