With just a few weeks remaining for photographers to enter the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards, we present a selection of early submissions to the world's largest photography competition. Entries to the Open and Youth competitions of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards will close on 5 January 2016, followed by the deadline for the Professional competition on 12 January. All competitions are free to enter at www.worldphoto.org/swpa.

Professional and amateur photographers can compete in a range of categories for cash prizes and Sony digital imaging equipment. Last year's contest attracted 173,444 entries from 171 countries. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 21 April. All winning and finalist photographers will have their work exhibited at Somerset House in London from 22 April to 8 May and published in the 2016 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book, giving them global exposure.

One professional photographer will be awarded the title of L'Iris d'Or/Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year. The 2015 title was awarded to Getty Images photojournalist John Moore for his hard-hitting series documenting the Ebola crisis in Liberia.

The judges for the 2016 competition comprise of respected figures from across the industry. Please click here to find out more about the judges and what they are looking for in the entries. For more details and information on how to enter go to www.worldphoto.org.