Born in Switzerland and now living in New York City, Grob is known for his compelling portraits of celebrities, actors, musicians and political figures including Uma Thurman, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Sir Elton John, Kanye West, Pink, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. His images have appeared on the covers and in the pages of magazines such as Time, GQ, Vanity Fair, ELLE, Vogue and New York Magazine. Grob has also photographed advertising campaigns for a wide range of notable clients including Adidas, Seat UK, Tag Heuer, and Levi's, just to name a few.

Read more: Marco Grob to attend Gothenburg Photo Fair

Israeli photographer Netanel Hadad has won the Carl Zeiss photo contest on ‘digital culture’ for his work entitled “The digital blind date”. A man and woman are seated across from each other at a table with a glass of wine, looking at one another in the candlelight. They talk, talk, talk. It’s their first date - they haven’t met before.

Nati Hadad, Israel, Picture taken with: Hasselblad 501 CM with Carl Zeiss, Planar T* 2,8/80 CB

Is this a normal blind date? Almost. There are just two laptops on the table. The couple is meeting virtually. They are both ‘hiding’ behind their computer screens. “The picture won because it deals with a tough topic beautifully and creatively. There’s great atmosphere in this image,” says photographer Edith Held from Berlin, who assessed the contest entries. “The photographer plays with the details and thus renders the story into the image perfectly. I really like the idea behind it.”

Read more: Carl Zeiss announces Digital Culture results

The shortlist for the 2010 Sony World Photography Awards is announced today, Tuesday 23 February. The list contains the names of 190 outstanding photographers from 48 different countries. From fashion to music, architecture to current affairs, the Sony World Photography Awards is one of the most comprehensive photographic competitions in the world.

Read more: Sony World Photography Awards 2010 Nominees

Eve Arnold is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards. She will be honoured at the annual awards ceremony in Cannes on 22 April, the day after her 98th birthday, amongst leading figures of the international photographic community.

Scott Gray, Managing Director of the World Photography Organisation comments: “Over such an incredible life and long career it is difficult to imagine what Eve Arnold did not capture on film, and what she did capture are some of the most abiding images of our time. We are proud and honoured to celebrate her life and work at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards.”

Read more: Eve Arnold to receive Lifetime Achievement Award