DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Photographs: Amir Hamja/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

The shortlist for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world’s leading photography competitions, has been announced.

Photographers from 166 countries submitted nearly 140,000 images, the highest number of entries in the awards’ seven year history.

Rediff.com showcases some of the best photos shortlisted by the award jury.

Winners are scheduled to be announced in March and April

We start off with photographer Amir Hamja's work

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: In July each year, this heart-pounding scene of wildebeests migration repeats itself in Kenya. It's nature's most dramatic moment!
Photographs: Bonnie Cheung/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Bonnie Cheung

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Love, tenderness, hope and passion, all together in this emotional tropical capture from Volcain Arenal, Costa Rica
Photographs: Nicolas Reusens/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Nicolas Reusens

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: 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.
Photographs: Samantha Fortenberry/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Samantha Fortenberry

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: A Fine Art interpretation of the castle in Methoni, Pelloponisos, Greece
Photographs: Vassilis Tangoulis/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Vassilis Tangoulis

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Photographs: Ngai Bun Wonh/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Ngai Bun Wonh

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Mobius Arch at Pyhae Luosto National Park at night with Milky Way. The Arch had been illuminated with 2 headlights
Photographs: Nicholas Roemmelt/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Nicholas Roemmelt

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Homebound
Photographs: Ata Mohammad Adnan/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Ata Mohammad Adnan

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Various crash barriers encountered by the photographer to get a picture of interest.
Photographs: Hairul Azizi Harun/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Hairul Azizi Harun

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: A hunter rests in his little house on the plains in western mongolia with his Eagle which is hooded and cat under the table!
Photographs: Simon Morris/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Simon Morris

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: A muddy face from the mud bath going into the lake
Photographs: Alpay Erdem/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Alpay Erdem

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: The cattle race in the city of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia, has 400 years of history
Photographs: YongSheng Zheng/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: YongSheng Zheng

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Photographs: Louise Porter/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Louise Porter

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Kubana open air festival that took place in 2013 in the vicinity of the city of Anapa (Russia)
Photographs: Igor Kryzhko/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Igor Kryzhko

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: A baby Orang Utan peeking out from his mother's embrace.
Photographs: Chin Boon Leng/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Chin Boon Leng

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Lion, grooming
Photographs: George Logan/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: George Logan

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: An old Hindu woman sits with lights (Prodip) and prays to God in front of Shri Shri Lokanath Brahmachar Ashram temple during the Rakher Upobash at Barodi, Narayangonj, near Dhaka, Bangladesh
Photographs: Suvra Kanti Das/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Suvra Kanti Das

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Aerial view of Iceland
Photographs: Emmanuel Coupe-Kalomiris/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Emmanuel Coupe-Kalomiris

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Photographs: Wilfred Berthelsen/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Wilfred Berthelsen

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DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race

Image: Naples, Scampia neighborhood, a large area under Camorra control, the biggest area in Europe known for drug selling. A pusher with his gun on the roof of a building called "The Sails"
Photographs: Salvatore Esposito/2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Photographer Name: Salvatore Esposito

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