Founded in 1955 and headquartered in The Netherlands, World Press Photo each year organizes the world’s largest press photo competition. Entry to the prestigious contest is free to all professional press photographers. Keeping with the organization’s commitment to a varied and noteworthy selection of photographs, entries are welcomed from any magazines, newspapers or press agencies worldwide, as well.
In early February of each year, a 13-member panel consisting of photographers, photo editors and representatives from press agencies all across the globe judges the competition independently of World Press Photo. In their judgement of the photos, the group strives for diversity in perspective, background and vision amongst its panelists. The result is a dynamic, influential and generally astonishing group of finalists, culled from a pool of over 5,000 entries.
The prizes are awarded in ten categories, each split into single image and photo story groups, with one photo chosen as the grand prize winner. This year the honor was bestowed upon Tim Hetherington from Vanity Fair, for his photo (below) of an American soldier taking a stunned moment’s rest in the Korengal valley in Afghanistan. A fine photo in its own right, but only one of many captivating, gripping photos chosen as prizewinners this year.
The gallery is worth some viewing time, as a visual feast, but more importantly, for its immediacy in connecting the viewer with the world. These are timely, relevant stories; and through the power of photography, they highlight not only the chaos, fear and depravity of the human condition, but the potential elegance and subtle beauty of the world, no matter the context.
