Zed Nelson, one of the most acclaimed names in contemporary photography, has been named Grand Winner – Photographer of the Year at the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious art photography competitions. His project “The Anthropocene Illusion”, developed over six years on four continents, has garnered widespread acclaim for its visual power and alarming message.
An artistic reflection on the illusion of progress
At the heart of the project lies a profound critique of human consumerism and its harmful impact on the environment. Nelson’s photographs are not simply documentations of reality – they are masterfully staged scenes that at first glance appear beautiful, even aesthetic, but which in fact conceal the environmental destruction that lies beneath the surface of modern civilization.
The project, focused on the Anthropocene era – the geological period where human impact has left indelible marks on the earth – comes as a visual warning about the path we have chosen as a global society: a path of limitless consumption and unstoppable development, often to the detriment of nature.
The message for the digital age and the dangers of visual manipulation
In his acceptance speech, Nelson expressed deep concern about the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the way we perceive reality through images. According to him, in an age where AI can easily create, modify and manipulate images that look real, the credibility of documentary photography is at risk.
“We are entering a world where every image can be an illusion,” Nelson said. “More than ever, we need real, verified images that we trust, that show us the world as it is — not as we would like it to be.”
A victory that goes beyond art
Nelson's victory is not just a personal or artistic triumph – it serves as a call to reflection, to reconsider the way we live, consume and document the world around us. At a time when digital reality blends with physical reality, and when climate change is no longer a warning but an everyday occurrence, the project “The Anthropocene Illusion” comes as a chronicle of a world on the brink of its demise.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2025 reaffirm the vital role that photography plays in the modern era: not just to tell, but to raise awareness, to challenge, and to defend the truth. With “The Anthropocene Illusion,” Zed Nelson didn’t just win an award – he raised his voice for the planet.
Source : https://www.worldphoto.org/
