The world's biggest photography competition has revealed some beautiful work from the UK. Words Ginny Weeks.

The shortlist for the Sony World Photography Awards, the world's biggest photography competition, has been revealed for 2015.

Recognising the world's best contemporary photography from the last year, the 2015 competition received the highest number of entries in its eight-year history – 173,444 images from 171 countries – a 24% increase on 2014.

Across the 13 Professional, 10 Open and 3 Youth categories there were some stunning entries from the UK, including some coastal ones below, which have been shortlisted.

The overall winners will be revealed on the 23rd April, followed by an exhibition at Somerset House in London from the 24 April – 10 May 2015.

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