Shortly about World Press Photo Contest

Aistė | Kita | February 18, 2010

World Press Photo Contest have ended this week. Though I’m only an amateur photographer I would like to share some of my thoughts about it.

Every year this photo contest gets a lot of attention from the press. How could it be different? It’s a press photo contest. And it reflects the issues that we see everyday in the newspapers. And this year this was the biggest disappointment. So much blood and war was shown in the contest that it made me sad. Violence shown even in sports part… Of course, blood and violence makes the strongest impact in peoples’ minds and that’s the main purpose of press photography…

Bloodbath in Madagascar, February. Walter Astrada, Argentina, Agence France-Press.

Still what makes me sad, is the frequency of it’s usage. But anyway, as the press professionals say, it is the magic circle: journalists write what is read and people read what is written. The same is with the photos. No one is able to change that. Or is it?

Never mind. My own interest always lies in sports photography. To say the truth I’m a little bit disappointed by the Action winner. Of course the photo itself is flawless.

England's Jonathan Trott dives in vain as he is run out by Australia's Simon Katich during the fifth Ashes test match at Oval, London, 20 August. Gareth Copley, United Kingdom, Press Association.

Still I have seen the view few thousand times already. On the other hand I just love all the winners in sports action stories.

Ironman World Championships, Hawaii. Donald Miralle, Jr., USA.

It seems that photos talks to you. Interesting fact is that all the story photos are white and black. And I really do believe that this way serves the authors purpose. My top favorite photo is by Craig Golding.

World Masters Games, Sydney. Craig Golding, Australia, for Getty Images.

Here you can read all the story in the flash of a second in the eyes of the sportsman.

Sports feature story about Lance Armstrong is very expressive.

Lance Armstrong's comeback. Elizabeth Kreutz, USA.

In fact you can feel the psychological connection between the author and the sportsman which later becomes the connection between you and the sportsman.

One more story have made the clear effect on me.

Slaughterhouse, Italy. Tommaso Ausili, Italy, SIME.

Though I don’t know is the effect good. Certainly I had a thought of becoming the vegetarian…

Thanks for all the authors and hope to meet them next year in the contest.