Bolivian Photographer's stunning series down to the final three of professional competition in the sports category
25 February 2025 - SHANK Media, by Matt Hooper: A stunning photography series telling the story of Bolivian female golfers is in contention to win the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2025. The series, shot for McKellar Magazine by Michael Dunn Caceres showcases Martha and Teresa, natives of Oruro, Bolivia. They have been working for more than a decade at one of the highest golf courses in the world — the La Paz Golf Club, which sits 3,600 meters above sea level. Every Monday they leave their usual work roles and practice the sport they are passionate about, wearing the traditional clothing of the Bolivian ‘chola.’
Michael accompanied Former St Andrews Links caddie Oliver Horovitz to La Paz for McKellar Magazine.
Oliver, author of “An American Caddie in St. Andrews”, visited Bolivia to spend time with the cholitas, La Paz’s female maintenance staff. As members of Bolivia’s Indigenous groups, their lives are far from the cosseted world of the country-club, but they have learned the game together and gather most Mondays to play the course and enjoy each other’s company. Horovitz dives deep into the strata of modern Bolivian society to tell their story with humour and heart. His piece is accompanied by original photography by Michael Dunn, which adds plenty of compelling detail of its own. (mckellarmagazine.com)
There are just 11 golf courses in Bolivia, with 500 registered golfers, of which 72 are female. La Paz Golf Club was built in 1912 and is said to be the world's highest golf course, sitting at more than 3,000 metres (9800 feet) above seal level.
Winners of each of the Professional Categories are in contention to win the overall Sony World Photography Award for the Photographer of the Year, and a $25,000 (USD) cash prize along with a range of Sony digital imaging equipment, the Photographer of the Year will show their work in a solo presentation at next year’s Sony World Photography Awards London exhibition.
The World Photography Organisation today unveiled the Finalists and shortlists for the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards, a press release today said:
The Sony World Photography Awards reveals today the finalists and shortlisted photographers in the 2025 Professional competition. Now in its 18th year, the Professional competition rewards outstanding series of work for their compelling approach to narrative and their photographic execution.
Across this year’s competitions, over 419,000 images from over 200 countries and territories were submitted to the Awards.
The 10 category winners will be chosen from the 30 finalists and announced at a special ceremony in London on 16 April. The recipient of the prestigious Photographer of the Year title is chosen from the category winners and announced on the same night. In addition to receiving a $25,000 (USD) cash prize and a range of Sony digital imaging equipment, the Photographer of the Year is offered the opportunity to show their work in a solo presentation at next year’s Sony World Photography Awards London exhibition.
A new prize element is additionally introduced for this year’s Professional competition; the 10 category winners are invited to London for a day of tailored sessions with leading industry figures. From a range of commercial and institutional backgrounds, these experts offer the photographers specialised guidance on ways to continue to widen their platform and to find new opportunities to showcase their work.
Underscoring the creativity and dynamism of Japan’s contemporary photography scene, the 2025 Awards also marks the first edition of the Japan Professional Award, which recognises a winner and shortlist of striking series by Japanese photographers from the Professional competition.
A selection of works by finalists and shortlisted photographers is first on view as part of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 exhibition at Somerset House from 17 April - 5 May 2025, and will thereafter travel to other locations.
‘We were so impressed by the strength and variety of the works submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards 2025. It is always a real challenge to select the shortlists and finalists, and as a jury we found the wider entries no less vital and inspiring.
On behalf of the jury I would like to congratulate the shortlist and finalists of the Professional competition. Across their projects, these photographers show great originality and clarity of vision, bringing prescient stories to the fore. From narratives of community-building, to explorations of collective memory, to empowering stories of people challenging conventions, these works offer a diversity of perspectives on our moment in history. I would like to extend my thanks to all of the jury for their careful deliberations and choices this year.’
Monica Allende, Chair of the Jury, on behalf of the Jury
The finalists and shortlists of the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 Professional competition are:
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