This was originally posted on the Macleay Newsroom website.
The first
World Press Photo contest was held in 1955, after members
of the Dutch photojournalists’ union had the idea of creating an international
competition to complement a national one. Nearly every year since then, iconic photographs taken
by photojournalists from all around the world, are exhibited globally.
The 56th
annual exhibition, held at Sydney’s State Library, with 154 photographs on
display, chosen from over 100, 000 images that were entered. Comment on an
array of current issues. Ranging from the harsh realities of war, natural
disasters, same sex couples in Vietnam, posed portraits of natural born
deformities, to the simplistic beauty of animals.
“The foundation is committed to supporting and advancing high standards
in photojournalism and documentary storytelling worldwide,” says World Press
Photo media coordinator, Barbara Bufkens. “Its aim is to generate wide public
interest in and appreciation for the work of photographers and other visual
journalists.”
Observers describe 2013’s World Press Photo of the year (inset), “Gaza
Burial” shot by Paul Hansen, as “confronting” and felt “a great amount of
sorrow.”
The
collection of war images hit a nerve with onlookers, detailing them as “horrific
and emotionally distressing.”
“With around 100 local exhibitions that attract around 3.5 million
visitors, each year, the exhibition tour of prize-winning photographs is one of
the most popular traveling photo events in the world.” Bufkens claims. “The
World Press Photo of the Year, is awarded for the single photograph that is not
only the photojournalistic encapsulation of the year, but represents an issue,
situation or event of great journalistic importance, and does so in a way that
demonstrates an outstanding level of visual perception and creativity.”
Viewers
shared their thoughts on the overall exhibition:
The World Press Photo Exhibition is on until the 28th July, 2013. At Sydney's State Library, entry is free.
