Awarded annually since 1993, the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize is one of the world’s most celebrated and competitive photography awards. This winter will see its shortlist on display at the National Portrait Gallery.

In past years, entries have ranged from formal portraits to more experimental images, submitted by both established professionals and emerging talent from all over the world. The diversity and international flavour of this exhibition makes it one of the year’s most inspiring open submission photography competitions.

Last year’s shortlist more than delivered on the dazzling variety for which the Prize is known. Claudio Rasano’s winning portrait of a Johannesburg schoolboy in uniform forefronts crisp lines and pale frontal lighting, bringing into stark relief the uneasy gaze of his young subject. By contrast, an evocative image from Joni Sternbach’s Surfland portraits of California surfers (above) uses tintype to capture the dreamlike haze of the Pacific coast.

If the mastery of past years is anything to go by, the Taylor Wessing Prize 2017 is not one to miss.