The beautiful and the bizarre come together in the world’s greatest photographs

These incredible pictures are the cream of the cream of this year's collective photographic opus, the selected shortlisted entrants to this year's edition of the Sony World Photography Awards.

Documenting the entire breadth of visual experience, from human interest to landscape via nature and social justice, the 173,444 entries from 171 countries were the most in the competition's history.

Those in the awards’ Professional categories will now compete for a $25,000 prize and the coveted L’Iris d’Or/ Photographer of the Year title. Winners will be announced at the Sony World Photography Awards Gala Ceremony on April 23.

(dailymail.co.uk)