Breathtaking images from Sony World Photography Awards

Chinese photographer Guofei Li was named the winner of the natural world and wildlife category thanks to this incredible image of cheetahs in Botswana. The photographer explained: "These cheetahs had just eaten an antelope, and were licking the bloodstains off each other’s faces. It’s a very rare posture and one that reminded me of the traditional Chinese Tai Chi diagram." Photograph: Guofei Li/World Photography Awards

Satheesh Chandran snapped the shot this shot which shows a Theyyam ritual taking place in a temple in Kerala. It was shortlisted in the culture category. The photographer said: "The performer transforms from human to a demigod through music, dance, make-up and costume." Photograph: Satheesh Chandran/World Photography Awards

This dramatic image of a greyhound training for a race as sand blows up in its face was snapped by Belgian photographer Muriel Vekemans. It was shortlisted in the motion category. Photograph: Muriel Vekemans/World Photography Awards

This sweet shot of a baby orangutan and its mother was captured by Ukrainian photographer Julia Wimmerlin in Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo, Indonesia. It was shortlisted in the natural world and wildlife category. She said: "I couldn’t believe my luck -- it was the most humanlike, heartwarming scene I have witnessed there. Much like humans, baby orangutans stay with their mothers until they are seven years old. For the first few years they don’t leave their mother's side -- they grab on to her hair and are carried everywhere." Photograph: Julia Wimmerlin/World Photography Awards

Colombian photographer Santiaga Mesa was named the winner in the street photography category thanks to this dramatic image. He explained: "In recent years, a number of protests have broken out across Latin America. Reasons for this unrest range from a proposed end to fuel subsidies in Ecuador to a rise in metro fares in Chile, and feelings of inequality and a general lack of opportunity in Colombia. In Medellin, north-western Colombia, workers and street vendors were taking part in a march when the Medellin riot squad dispersed them." Photograph: Santiaga Mesa/World Photography Awards

This unusual image was captured by photographer Peter Brooks on the London Underground in October 2019 during the Extinction Rebellion uprising. He was shortlisted in the street photography category. He said: "This image is part of my efforts to capture the emotional impact the Red Rebel Brigade had on the public, and the protests, through conversation and photography." Photograph: Peter Brooks/World Photography Awards

Argentinian photographer Jorge Reynal was named the winner of the still life category with a heartbreaking image of a fish inside a plastic bag, left. He said: "Each year, eight million tons of plastic end up in our oceans -- equivalent to emptying a garbage truck into the water every minute. This is my protest against pollution. In my language (Spanish), we use the words "Naturaleza Muerta" to refer to still life, which ironically translates as dead nature." Photograph: Jorge Reynal/World Photography Awards

British photographer David Keep captured this amazing image of a saltwater crocodile on the Jardines de la Reina archipelago in Cuba. The photo was shortlisted in the natural world and wildlife category. David said: "I was in the water for around an hour with this particular animal, and I must admit I never felt really relaxed. Looking back, it was more reputation than reality that caused my unease. It was an awesome experience, and I think this image sums up the feeling I had of being watched intently!" Photograph: David Keep/World Photography Awards

This serene image of a mangrove tree at Walakiri Beach in Sumba, Indonesia, is a joint effort between Malaysian photographers Hsiang Hui and Sylvester Wong. The pair said that the water was calm at dawn and offered some 'wonderful reflections'. The snap was shortlisted in the landscape category. Photograph: Hsiang Hui and Sylvester Wong/World Photography Awards

The winner of the landscape category was Australian photographer Craig McGowan for this beautiful shot of a solitary iceberg set against the fjord walls in Northeast Greenland National Park. Photograph: Craig McGowan/World Photography Awards

This moment when members of the audience were invited on stage to dance at an Iggy Pop concert in the Sydney Opera House won in the Culture category. The scene was likened to a Caravaggio painting. Photograph: Antoine Veling/World Photography Awards

Alec Connah from the UK was named as the winner of the motion category thanks to this shot showing the demolition of four cooling towers at Ironbridge Power Station in Shropshire. He said: "The towers had been a feature of the landscape for 50 years, but were brought down as part of a new development on the site. The demolition had been a long time coming -- the towers were close to a river, railway line and protected woodland, so their destruction had to be precise. This picture was taken from my garden, which is on the hillside opposite the site. Photograph: Alec Connah/World Photography Awards

A colossal wave scales the harbour wall at Newhaven in East Sussex. The dramatic image was snapped by British photographer Lloyd Lane, who was shortlisted in the motion category. He said: "A high tide, together with strong winds, led to some big waves at the port in March 2019. This was my first time out with my new telephoto lens and I was treated to some great conditions, with the sun helping to light up the scene." Photograph: Lloyd Lane/World Photography Awards

This image snapped by British photographer James Rushforth in Iceland, was shortlisted in the travel category. He said: "The oxidation of iron minerals in the lava creates the red around the rims, which contrasts sharply with the surrounding basalt. The scene is completely otherworldly, especially when coupled with the remote location. A white four-wheel-drive vehicle can be seen on the road beneath the craters." Photograph: James Rushforth/World Photography Awards

Winner of the portraiture category was British photographer Tom Oldham with this snap of singer Black Francis. Tom explained: "Photographers for Mojo Magazine enjoy a rare degree of freedom and trust with what is usually an open brief. This allows us to capture our own experience with very high profile musicians. However, when photographing famous singers, we are often painfully aware of how many times the sitter has, well, sat. I like to acknowledge this and asked Charles (aka Black Francis) to show me the level of frustration photoshoots can generate. He offered up this perfect gesture of exasperation, and the image ran as the lead portrait for the feature." Photograph: Tom Oldham/World Photography Awards

The winner of the travel category was Adrian Guerin with this incredible shot of an iron-ore train in Mauritania. Adrian, from Australia, explained: "The train covers over 700 km on its journey from the coastal town of Nouadhibou to the Saharan wilderness of Zouérat. More than 200 carriages are loaded with rocks in Zouérat, before the train begins its long journey back to Nouadhibou. I rode the train in both directions in July 2019. On the first leg of the journey I learnt that in order to photograph the full length of the train I needed to stand on the rocks for height, position myself in a rear carriage to get the full view, and keep the sun behind me. Alas, none of this was possible until the morning of day three, at which point I had almost given up. This shot was taken as I balanced on my toes atop a mountain of rocks, trying to remain steady as the train jolted from side to side." Photograph: Adrian Guerin/World Photography Awards

Chinese photographer Suxing Zhang scooped the title of winner in the creative category after entering this shot from her series called 'hua', which means flower in Chinese. In this image, she said she used a 'combination of light and texture to create strong visuals that heighten the senses'. Photograph: Suxing Zhang/World Photography Awards

A black and white image featuring 38 degree Parallelo, a pyramid-shaped sculpture by Mauro Staccioli which stands at the exact point where the geographical coordinates touch the 38th parallel, won in the architecture category. Photograph: Rosaria Sabrina Pantano/World Photography Awards

British photographer Peter Li was shortlisted in the architecture category for this haunting photo of Grundtvigs Kirke, a relatively new church in Copenhagen. Peter said: "It was completed in 1940 and took the architect’s family three generations to complete. The design is a fusion between the modern geometric forms of Brick Expressionism and the classical vertical structure of Gothic architecture." Photograph: Peter Li/World Photography Awards