LONDON.- A joyous family image by Scottish photographer Alex Ingle has won the Open Smile category at the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards, the world’s biggest photography competition.

A record-breaking 230,103 photographs from over 186 countries were entered into the awards’ three competitions; Professional, Open and Youth. Ingle's photograph “Wake Up Call” was selected from 95,541 submissions to the Open competition.

Alex Ingle is a photographer based in Edinburgh and his love of photography and film-making began at an early age. With a passion for environmental science, a background in glaciology and substantial expertise in offshore research expeditions, Ingle was worked on a variety of documentary projects from Greenland's ice cap to the catacombs of Rome, from Iceland's jökulhlaup gorges to the Norwegian Sea.

The photographer will now compete against the nine other Open category winners to win the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards Open Photographer of the Year title and $5,000 (USD) prize. The overall winning Open photographer will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 21st April and this photographer will be flown to London to collect his/her prize.

Ingle won with an image taken at Easter 2015 and he says: “After a large celebratory meal, a moment's peace is an opportunity for a nap. The youngest member of the Nawrot family, having none of it, climbs onto the sofa and prepares to wake 'Dziadzia Jacek' (his grandfather). This brief moment before jumping on his grandfather's legs is one of pure joy.”

Continuing to talk about the win the photographer continues: “To put the win into context, I do a lot of work at sea – packing the bags and saying goodbye to the family is always difficult. I was just preparing for one such trip when the call came through. Winning the Smile category couldn’t have been more apt - it’s the first time I've left home for an offshore assignment with a grin on my face. This is the first time that my work has been honoured in this way and it's an incredible feeling. I can't stop smiling.”

Alex Ingle is one of ten Open category winners announced today by the awards organisers, the World Photography Organisation. All ten winners will receive a Sony ɑ7 II camera and will have their winning images exhibited at Somerset House, London from 22 April – 8 May and published in the 2016 edition of the annual Sony World Photography Awards book.

Ingle will now compete against the nine other Open category winners to win the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards Open Photographer of the Year title and $5,000 (USD) prize. The overall winning Open photographer will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 21 April and this photographer will be flown to London to collect his/her prize.