The shortlist for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world's leading photography competitions, has been revealed today by the World Photography Organisation. Photographers from 166 countries submitted nearly 140,000 images, the highest number of entries in the awards' seven-year history.

All the shortlisted images will go on show at Somerset House, London, from 1-18 May as part of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. Tickets are now available at www.worldphoto.org/2014exhibition. The winners and images that made it to the final phase will also be published in the 2014 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book.

The awards recognise Professional, Open and Youth contestants. This gallery showcases just 20 of the shortlisted images in the Open competition, which is for photographers of all abilities, in a number of categories like Nature & Wildlife, Low Light, Arts & Culture. Category winners will be announced on 18 March and one Overall Open Photographer of the Year will be revealed on 30 April 2014.