Highlights from the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Shortlist

The World Photography Organization just announced the shortlist for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. This year’s contest received more than 140,000 entries from 166 countries. The judges will announce the final winners in March and April of this year, but for now here are a selection of highlights from the shortlist courtesy the World Photography Organization.

Lightsnake. © Holger Schmidtke, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards

In your youth, nothing can stop you from enjoying time with your friends, especially not a simple matter of rain during summer fun. You may grow up and forget the names, but you’ll always remember the moments, the time on the dock with your friends during a surprise shower. © Samantha Fortenberry, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards.

A baby Orangutan peeking out from his mother’s embrace. © Chin Boon Leng, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards.

Homebound. © Ata Mohammad Adnan, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards.

In July each year, this heart-pounding scene of wildebeests migration repeats itself in Kenya. © Bonnie Cheung, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards.

Aerial image of river delta in Iceland. © Emmanuel Coupe, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. Pilgrims and devotees cross pontoon bridges at the Maha Kumbh Mela – the largest spiritual gathering on the planet, held every 12 years in India. © Wolfgang Weinhardt, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. An overhead view, from the skies above Poland. © Kacper Kowalski, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. Interior of an abandoned cooling tower. © Jan Stel, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. China, Jiangyin, Jiangsu. Rows of identical houses with a playground seen in the middle in the city of Jiangyin. © Kacper Kowalski, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. A muddy face from the mud bath, going into the lake. © Alpay Erdem, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. The knight and his steed, a tropical capture in Costa Rica. © Nicolas Reusens, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. Disaster Zone. © Alison Crea, 2014 Sony World Photography Awards. And don't forget, if you're looking for a piece of original art to hang on your walls, check out artFido HERE!