The Most Beautiful Travel Photographs of 2016

The Sony World Photography Awards, the biggest photography competition in the world, recently released the shortlists for the 2016 edition. This year's entries cover a broad scope of themes and geography, with over 270 photographers from nearly 60 countries represented. The photographs depict everything from the conflict in Ukraine to underwater ecology to private moments captured on film. The overall winners will be announced on April 21, and the images will be shown at Somerset House in London from April 22 to May 8. Here, take a look at some shortlist competitors who tell the story of a place without ever using a word.