World Press Photo
Encyclopedia
World Press Photo is an independent, non-profit organization based in Amsterdam
, Netherlands
. Founded in 1955 the organization is known for holding the world's largest and most prestigious annual press photography
contest.
The awards ceremony is held in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. After the contest, the prizewinning photographs are assembled into a traveling exhibition that is visited by over a million people in 40 countries. A yearbook presenting all prizewinning entries is published annually in six languages.
In addition to selecting the World Press Photo of the Year
, the contest determines winners in the following categories:
Another primary objective of the organization is to support professional press photography on a wide international scale, to stimulate developments in photojournalism
, encourage the transfer of knowledge, help develop high professional standards in photojournalism and promote a free and unrestricted exchange of information. It organizes a number of educational projects throughout the world: seminars, workshops and the annual Joop Swart Masterclass.
, of USA, won the World Press Photo of the Year for the second time (the first was in 1987).
In 2007, a total of 4,460 professional photographers from 124 countries entered 78,083 images in the competition. The winner was the British photographer Tim Hetherington
.
New York based photographer Spencer Platt of Getty Images
won in 2006. His picture showed a group of young Lebanese
driving through a South Beirut neighborhood devastated by Israeli
bombings. The picture was taken on 15 August 2006, the first day of the ceasefire
between Israel and Hezbollah when thousands of Lebanese started returning to their homes.
Amit Sha'al of Israel
won third prize in 2011 in the category of Arts and Entertainment: Stories. During an exhibit in Lebanon
that year, World Press Photo was asked to remove Sha'al's photos because, according to the General Security Directorate
, Lebanon and Israel were "in a state of war." WPP refused to censor the Israeli artist and shut down the exhibit ten days ahead of schedule.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Founded in 1955 the organization is known for holding the world's largest and most prestigious annual press photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
contest.
The awards ceremony is held in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. After the contest, the prizewinning photographs are assembled into a traveling exhibition that is visited by over a million people in 40 countries. A yearbook presenting all prizewinning entries is published annually in six languages.
In addition to selecting the World Press Photo of the Year
World Press Photo of the Year
The vote for Press Photo of the Year is taken during the World Press Photo Awards, hosted by the Dutch foundation World Press Photo. The creator of the winning entry receives €10,000 along with "the most prestigious and coveted award in photojournalism"....
, the contest determines winners in the following categories:
- Spot News
- General News
- People in the News
- Sports Action
- Sports Features
- Contemporary Issues
- Daily Life
- Portraits
- Arts and Entertainment
- Nature.
Another primary objective of the organization is to support professional press photography on a wide international scale, to stimulate developments in photojournalism
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to video used in broadcast journalism...
, encourage the transfer of knowledge, help develop high professional standards in photojournalism and promote a free and unrestricted exchange of information. It organizes a number of educational projects throughout the world: seminars, workshops and the annual Joop Swart Masterclass.
World Press Photo Contest Recent Winners
In 2008, Anthony SuauAnthony Suau
Anthony Suau , is an American award-winning photojournalist.-Life:He worked for the Chicago Sun Times, and Denver Post....
, of USA, won the World Press Photo of the Year for the second time (the first was in 1987).
In 2007, a total of 4,460 professional photographers from 124 countries entered 78,083 images in the competition. The winner was the British photographer Tim Hetherington
Tim Hetherington
Timothy Alistair Telemachus Hetherington was a British-American photojournalistwith work that "ranged from multi-screen installations, to fly-poster exhibitions, to handheld device downloads." He was best known for the documentary film Restrepo , which he co-directed with Sebastian Junger; the...
.
New York based photographer Spencer Platt of Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images, Inc. is a stock photo agency, based in Seattle, Washington, USA. It is a supplier of stock images for business and consumers with an archive of 80 million still images and illustrations and more than 50,000 hours of stock film footage...
won in 2006. His picture showed a group of young Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
driving through a South Beirut neighborhood devastated by Israeli
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
bombings. The picture was taken on 15 August 2006, the first day of the ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
between Israel and Hezbollah when thousands of Lebanese started returning to their homes.
Amit Sha'al of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
won third prize in 2011 in the category of Arts and Entertainment: Stories. During an exhibit in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
that year, World Press Photo was asked to remove Sha'al's photos because, according to the General Security Directorate
General Security Directorate (Lebanon)
The General Security Directorate is a Lebanese intelligence agency founded on May 1, 1921 and was originally known as the "first bureau".-Perception:...
, Lebanon and Israel were "in a state of war." WPP refused to censor the Israeli artist and shut down the exhibit ten days ahead of schedule.
External links
- World Press Photo
- World Press Photo of the Year, winners since 1955
- World Press Photo Winners 2011 high-resolution slide show
- World Press Photo Winners 2010 high-resolution slide show
- World Press Photo Russia 2009
- World Press Photo Winners 2008
- World Press Photo Winners 2007
- World Press Photo Winners 2006
- World Press Photo Winners 2005
- World Press Photo Winners 2004