The Sony World Photography Awards, the world’s biggest photography competition, have announced the shortlisted finalists for their Professional, Open and Youth categories for 2015.

Announced today, the award recognises the world's best contemporary photography from last year. As anyone can enter, this year's competition received its highest number of entries in its eight year history, with 173,444 images being put forward from 171 countries.

Included in the shortlist is a mesmerising photo of synchronized swimmers in Singapore, an Indonesian man jumping through a ring of fire and what appears to be a headless dancer.

The winners of ten Open and three Youth categories will be revealed on 31 March and the thirteen Professional category winners will be announced on 23 April at an awards ceremony in London.

At the same ceremony, the recipient of the coveted Professional Photographer of the Year will win a £16,000 ($25,000) prize plus a Sony camera. The Student winner will receive equipment for their studies and the Youth winner also receives equipment, along with a trip down to London for the prize giving. The Open Photographer of the Year, will receive £3,000 ($5,000) prize money, and a Sony camera.

The shortlisted photographers will have their images shown as part of the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition in London’s historic Somerset House from 24 April – 10 May.

Take a look at some of our favourite images for the shortlisted categories below

From Tooting Bec's Lido to a headless dancer; Sony announce shortlist for World Photography Awards