Straight Voice, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Japan, Agence France-Presse
Every year, the World Press Photo Foundation, an Amsterdam-based nonprofit whose mission is to “connect the world to the stories that matter,” selects a jury of professional photographers to pore over thousands of photos from the past year. Through these photos, we see humanity at its best and worst—the highs and lows of life on this planet.
Awards are given in eight categories: contemporary issues, environment, general news, long-term projects, nature, portraits, sports, and sports news, in addition to a grand prize winner of the best World Press Photo Story of the year. This year, the contest’s 63rd edition, the seventeen-member jury has selected 44 photographers from 24 countries to compete for the final prizes. The winners, announced last week, will each receive a €10,000 prize.
These incredible images, representing the best in photojournalism from around the world, are stunning for their technical and artistic skill, as well as the stories they tell. Here are this year's winners, and a few unforgettable runner-ups.
Straight Voice, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Japan, Agence France-Presse
World Press Photo of the Year
This year's winning photo comes from the French photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba as part of his coverage of political unrest in Khartoum, Sudan. The young man at the center of Straight Voice is reciting poetry at a protest while friends provide a spotlight with their cellphones.
Chiba said of the photo: “This moment was the only peaceful group protest I encountered during my stay. I felt their undefeated solidarity like burning embers that remain to flare up again.”
Kho, the Genesis of a Revolt, Romain Laurendeau, France
World Press Photo Story of the Year
Romain Laurendeau's series Kho, the Genesis of a Revolt, shows how Algerian youth resist the conservative regime of long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Through the wide-spread protests of February 2019, to more subtle, private moments like the one shown here, young people in this country continue to fight for a more liberal society.
“It was impossible for a part of me not to recognize myself in these young people. They are young but they are tired of this situation and they just want to live like everyone else,” Laurendeau said of his winning series.
Saving Orangutans, Alain Schroeder, Belgium, for National Geographic
First Prize Winner- Nature Stories
Photographer Alain Schroeder's series Saving Orangutans documents the efforts of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). In Indonesia, the Sumatran Orangutan has become critically endangered due to the destruction of their natural habitat. Schroeder's images show where wildlife and industrialization meet, and the tender moments when humans can intervene to remediate some of our negative impact.
Hong Kong Unrest, Nicolas Asfouri, Denmark, Agence France-Presse
First Prize- General News Stories
Nicolas Asfouri's photos of the protests for democracy that halted everyday life in Hong Kong show the individual passions behind a national movement. Here, a woman leading a march holds up an umbrella, a symbol of protest.
Battling the Marsh Fire, Noah Berger, United States, for Associated Press
Second Prize- Environmental Singles
As wildfires around the world become more and more commonplace, we struggle to comprehend the power and destruction of these forces. Incredible photos like this one can help. Noah Berger documented the Marsh Complex Fire, near the town of Brentwood, California, in August 2019. Nominated for in the environment category, his images give a sense of the massive scale of these natural catastrophes.
Liverpool Champions League Victory Parade, Oli Scarff, United Kingdom, Agence France-Presse
Third Prize Winner- Sports Singles
Passions run deep in sports, too, of course, Oli Scarff's images of the Liverpool Champions League Victory Parade could be mistaken for war photos, with their screaming crowds and explosions of confetti. More than 750,000 fans turned out to celebrate the team's first trophy for Liverpool since winning the English Football League Cup in 2012.
Japan’s Veteran Rugby Players, Kim Kyung-Hoon, South Korea, Reuters
Third Prize Winner- Sports Stories
Kim Kyung-Hoon's photos of Tokyo’s Fuwaku Rugby Club, a league for players over 40, show the vitality of the elderly in the country with the largest aging population in the world. Combatting loneliness is essential to remaining healthy in your golden years, and the league is one way members stay physically and mentally strong.
Australia’s Bushfire Crisis, Matthew Abbott, Australia, Panos Pictures, for The New York Times
Second Prize Winner- Spot News Stories
More than 29 million acres burned when wildfires ravaged Australia earlier this year. The impact on the lives of Australians, as well as the landscape and wildlife, has been massive, as Matthew Abbott's dramatic but quiet image of destruction shows.
Exodus, Nicolò Filippo Rosso, Italy
Third Prize Winner- Contemporary Issues Stories
