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| Photograph © Tim Hetherington / World Press Photo 2008 |
| "We felt qualified to judge the photography, but not to stand in judgement of the world – nor to decide whether disease is more important issue than migration, poverty or homelessness." |
Words by Zarina Holmes “Downbeat”, was the word chosen by The Guardian head of photography Roger Tooth to describe selected winners of the World Press Photo 2008. He wasn’t off the mark, although I feel that World Press Photo has fulfilled it's benchmark purpose – showcasing the best of photojournalism talents around the world. I associate World Press Photo with courageous entries; not so much in the sense that the photographers had put themselves in awkward and risky situations to get the shots. It has plenty to do with the brave decisions made by commissioning editors whom journalistic integrity overrides the usual censorship hurdles to get the reportage published. “If the sole purpose appeared to win prizes, it is a pointless journalistic exercise,” said World Press Photo panel of judges. The well-deserved gong went to Vanity Fair, a fashion and lifestyle magazine, for commissioning the overall winning entry by British photographer and filmmaker, Tim Hetherington. It portrays a young American soldier, lethargic and shell-shocked during a combat against militant Islam in Afghanistan. “In capturing the exhaustion of a single man, the image reflects the exhaustion of an entire nation,” said Vanity Fair. Hetherington travelled to Afghanistan with Vanity Fair contributing editor Sebastian Junger. They spent three weeks with the Second Battalion of US Army’s 503rd Infantry Division in Korengal Valley for the article “Into the Valley of Death”. My personal favourite for photography technique and creativity goes to Canadian photographer Lana Slezic, winner of third prize in Portraits category. Slezic focused a modern digital camera onto the glass plate inside an old-fashioned Afghan box camera. The results are romantic, iconic portraits of women in Kabul. First prize winner of Contemporary Issues category is a memorable photograph of a gorilla carcass being evacuated by rangers in Virunga National Park, Congo. South African Brent Stirton captured the photo for Getty Images and Newsweek. It is no surprise that National Geographic photographer, David Littschwager, won first prize for Nature. The delightful shots of the ocean micro organisms have “NatGeo” signature all over; scientific, curious and educational. Gary Knight, chairman of the 2008 jury said,"We felt qualified to judge the photography, but not to stand in judgement of the world – nor to decide whether disease is more important issue than migration, poverty or homelessness.” I agree with him. Photojournalism is not about fulfilling specific moral obligations or championing certain themes to lift society's mood. It’s about telling the story as it is. www.worldpressphoto.org |
