Incredible pictures have been shortlisted for the world’s largest photo competition

Virgin Radio

17 Aug 2021, 13:50

Ever since the dawn of camera phones, we’ve all fancied ourselves as fairly decent photographers haven’t we? Well, prepare to feel humbled, because the photographs shortlisted for the prestigious CEWE Photo Award 2021 have just been revealed, and, let’s be honest, they make our own snaps seem pretty average in comparison! 

After over 600,000 photos from 170 countries were uploaded to the competition, which this year has the theme ‘Our World Is Beautiful’, ten images have been shortlisted for the overall award (one for each category). They will be displayed at the CEWE Photo Award Gala on September 16th, which takes place in Berlin. A winner will also be announced on the night.

The shortlisted images include Josef Schwarz’s incredible shot of a group of elephants huddling together in the African savanna to keep each other safe (pictured, top). 

Another breathtaking image was taken by photographer Petra Jung, which shows Rain droplets clinging to the tendrils of a dandelion seed.

In the Travel and Culture category, Siegfried Claeys’ picture shows beachgoers gathering on idyllic white sands in the Cape Verde islands, while being sure to socially distance.

Other photos which topped their categories include a modern take on a classic breakfast fried egg, a lighthouse looking out over a frozen sea, children playing football on the streets of Havana, and an array of colourful Vietnamese herbs and spices.

CEWE (pronounced ‘see-wee’) is a European photo printing company, and its competition is the largest in the world which is free to enter. The company has donated 10 Euro cents to the charity SOS Children’s Villages Worldwide for every image entered.

The CEWE website says: “It was not an easy task for the jury - the competition motto ‘Our world is beautiful’ was truly brought to life.”

You can check out all of the shortlisted photos here.