The Sony World Photography Awards, which is billed as the global photographic event of the year, has released the shortlist of photographers who have made the final cut from over 112,000 entries.

The honorary jury for the competition said they found the 'quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories'.

Manuel Geerinck, Lee Chee Wai, Alejandro Cartagena, Irina Werning, Gwenn Dubourthoumieu and Simon Norfolk, are but a few of the new names to place as finalists. Returning photographers from previous years include 2010 Professional Landscape winner, Peter Franck, Javier Arcenillas and Chan Kwok Hung whose ‘Buffalo Race’ image won the overall open competition last year.

The photographers shortlisted will have their work exhibited at London’s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012.

The annual Sony World Photography Awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on 26 April at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

The opening weekend of World Photo London will be held at Somerset House from 27 - 30 April with selected events including portfolio reviews, workshops, symposiums and the Sony World Photography Awards winners’ exhibitions, which continue through to 20 May 2012. Honorary Judges for the 2012 Awards and other international industry experts will be leading many of the festival events.

To see the full list of photographers who were shortlisted or to find out more information about the awards visit the World Photo website.