The inaugural World Photography Awards competition sponsored by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is currently underway. The competition whose to aim is recognize the world's best photographers, both amateurs and professionals, attracted entries from over 25,000 amateurs and over 44,000 professionals.

An expert group of judges managed to short-list the amateur photo entries to seven and then finally to one overall winner earlier this week. The grand prize of $5,000 and the title of "Sony World Photography Amateur Photographer of the Year", went to Arup Ghosh of India for his amazing image of an Indian barber at work (see below). Arup will be presented this prize and honored at a special function to be held in Cannes, France from April 21st- April 24th 2008.

The 33 finalists in the professional category have also been picked. The overall winner who will receive $25,000 U.S. Dollars and the title of "Sony World Photography Photographer of the Year" will be announced at the ceremony in Cannes, France.

Here are some of the pictures that made it to the finals in the Professional Photographer - Science and Nature categories. We would love to know if you think any of these will be the "overall winner". Be sure to add your comments below.

"Not very friendly Flamingos" - Anup Shah from United Kingdom

"Board 6" - Anil Singh from India

"An Untitled Picture of a Snarling Dog" - Giacomo Brunelli from Italy

"Life Saving Drug" - Thomas Deerinck from United States

"Ferns" by Thomas Brummett - Unites States (left) and "The Bell" - Vladimir Nefedov - Russia (right)