Art

The Stunning Images Nominated for the 2019 World Press Photo Contest

There were 78,801 submissions to the annual contest, and judges chose 43 impressive photographs.

Deena ElGenaidi

March 5, 2019 — 5 min read

Brent Stirton, "Akashinga - the Brave Ones" (2018): Petronella Chigumbura (30), a member of an all-female anti-poaching unit called Akashinga, participates in stealth and concealment training in the Phundundu Wildlife Park, Zimbabwe (© Brent Stirton, Getty Images) — Brent Stirton, “Akashinga – the Brave Ones” (2018): Petronella Chigumbura (30), a member of an all-female anti-poaching unit called Akashinga, participates in stealth and concealment training in the Phundundu Wildlife Park, Zimbabwe (© Brent Stirton, Getty Images, all images courtesy World Press Photo Contest)

This year’s 2019 World Press Photo Contest nominees have been announced, with a number of professional photographers being recognized for their visual journalism over the past year. The World Press Photo Contest, which began in 1955 and is now in its 62nd edition, uses an independent jury to oversee photographic works from six global regions across a multitude of backgrounds.

Finbarr O'Reilly, "Dakar Fashion" (2018): Diarra Ndiaye, Ndeye Fatou Mbaye, and Mariza Sakho model outfits by designer Adama Paris, in the Medina neighborhood of the Senegalese capital, Dakar, as curious residents look on (© Finbarr O'Reilly) — Finbarr O’Reilly, “Dakar Fashion” (2018): Diarra Ndiaye, Ndeye Fatou Mbaye, and Mariza Sakho model outfits by designer Adama Paris, in the Medina neighborhood of the Senegalese capital, Dakar, as curious residents look on (© Finbarr O’Reilly)

This year, 78,801 images by 4,738 photographers from 129 countries entered the contest, and the jury has selected 43 nominees in eight categories, with six nominees for World Press Photo of the Year and three nominees for their new award, World Press Photo Story of the Year. The World Press Photo Story of the Year “honors the photographer whose visual creativity and skills produced a story with excellent editing and sequencing that captures or represents an event or issue of great journalistic importance in 2018,” according to the organization.

Ingo Arndt, "Wild Pumas of Patagonia" (2018): Year-old puma cubs feed from the carcass of an adult guanaco, killed the night before (© Ingo Arndt, for National Geographic) — Ingo Arndt, “Wild Pumas of Patagonia” (2018): Year-old puma cubs feed from the carcass of an adult guanaco, killed the night before (© Ingo Arndt, for National Geographic)

“The Story of the Year allowed us to have more nuanced photography that had more breathing room and space to be a little bit more thoughtful and careful in the way we tell stories,” said Paul Moakley, deputy director of Photography and Visual Enterprise at Time Magazine, United States and 2019 Photo Contest jury member.

John Moore, "Crying Girl on the Border" (2018): Honduran toddler Yanela Sanchez cries as she and her mother, Sandra Sanchez, are taken into custody by US border officials in McAllen, Texas, USA, on June 12 (© John Moore, Getty Images) — John Moore, “Crying Girl on the Border” (2018): Honduran toddler Yanela Sanchez cries as she and her mother, Sandra Sanchez, are taken into custody by US border officials in McAllen, Texas, USA, on June 12 (© John Moore, Getty Images)

“[The World Press Photo Story of the Year] had to hold together visually, it had to be very cohesive, the editing of the story itself had to be quite strong, and the storytelling had to be there, there had to be different elements of the scenario,” said Whitney Johnson, vice president of Visuals and Immersive Experiences at National Geographic, and 2019 Photo Contest jury chair.

Winners will be announced on April 11, during an award show in Amsterdam. Following the contest, the nominees’ works will go on tour in an exhibition that reaches 100 locations, beginning in Amsterdam on April 14, 2019.