Stories

2018 World Press Photo Contest nominees announced

Civilians who had remained in west Mosul after the battle to take the city line up for aid in the Mamun neighbourhood. One girl turns her face to the masses while the others look on. Shot by Ivor Prickett.
This World Press Photo of the Year 2018 nominated image, by Ivor Prickett, depicts civilians – who had remained in west Mosul after the battle to take the city – lining up for aid in the Mamun neighbourhood, on 15 March 2017. Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark III with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens, on assignment for The New York Times. The series is nominated in the General News Stories category. © Ivor Prickett

Nominees for the 2018 World Press Photo Contest have been announced, showcasing the most striking photojournalism of 2017.

For the first time, organisers have revealed the six nominees for the World Press Photo of the Year, whose work covers major global crises, from the plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, through to the battle for Mosul, Iraq, and protests in Caracas, Venezuela.
A World Press Photo of the Year 2018 nominated image by Ivor Prickett shows an unidentified young boy being cared for by Iraqi Special Forces soldiers, having just been carried out of the last ISIS-controlled area in the Old City by a man suspected of being a militant. Shot by Ivor Prickett.
A World Press Photo of the Year 2018 nominated image by Ivor Prickett shows an unidentified young boy being cared for by Iraqi Special Forces soldiers, having just been carried out of the last ISIS-controlled area in the Old City by a man suspected of being a militant. Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark III with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens, on 12 July 2017 for The New York Times. The series is nominated in the General News Stories category. © Ivor Prickett

Two Canon photographers are among those shortlisted for the World Press Photo of the Year award, which recognises images of great journalistic importance. Irish photojournalist Ivor Prickett has two shots (above) nominated from his series charting the liberation of Mosul, Iraq, from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Contrasting sharply with one another – depicting both the mundanity of daily survival and the brutality of war – the images combine to highlight innocent children caught up in the tragedy.
Contemporary Issues Singles nominee Roger Turesson’s North Korea shows a crowd awaiting the start of the Pyongyang Marathon at the Kim Il-sung Stadium, while an official guards the exit, in Pyongyang, North Korea on 9 April 2017.
Contemporary Issues Singles nominee Roger Turesson’s North Korea shows a crowd awaiting the start of the Pyongyang Marathon at the Kim Il-sung Stadium, while an official guards the exit, in Pyongyang, North Korea on 9 April 2017. Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. © Roger Turesson, Dagens Nyheter

In Ivor's first image, taken in March 2017, the eye is drawn to a young girl standing in a long queue of people awaiting aid being distributed in the Mamun neighbourhood of west Mosul. Ivor's second shortlisted image, shot four months later, shows a young boy being carried out of the last ISIS-controlled area in the Old City by Iraqi Special Forces soldiers. They suspected that a militant had used the child as a human shield.
A man walks through a door with a gun. Espen Rasmussen’s story White Rage – USA was nominated in the Contemporary Issues Stories category. The series communicates the degree of anger in three US states: this was a journey made in the weeks after the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Espen Rasmussen’s story White Rage – USA, was nominated in the Contemporary Issues Stories category. The 23 September to 1 October 2017 series communicates the degree of white anger in three US states: this was a journey made in the weeks after the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with an EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM lens. © Espen Rasmussen

Patrick Brown, from Australia, is nominated for the World Press Photo of the Year for his stark catalogue of loss, showing the bodies of Rohingya refugees who drowned when the boat they were trying to flee Myanmar on capsized off the coast of Bangladesh. Of the 100 people who got onto the boat, only 17 survived.

The other nominees for the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year are Australian photographer Adam Ferguson, for his portrayal of a 14-year-old Boko Haram suicide bomb survivor for The New York Times; Reuters' Toby Melville, from the UK, for his coverage of the aftermath of the Westminster terror attack; and Ronaldo Schemidt, from Venezuela, who documented street fighting in his country for Agence France-Presse.
Dr Suporn Watanyusakul shows patient Olivia Thomas her new vagina after gender reassignment surgery at a hospital in Chonburi, near Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by Giulio Di Sturco.
More Than a Woman by Canon Ambassador Giulio Di Sturco is nominated for the Contemporary Issues Singles prize. On 3 February 2017, Dr Suporn Watanyusakul shows patient Olivia Thomas her new genitals after gender reassignment surgery at a hospital in Chonburi, near Bangkok, Thailand. © Giulio Di Sturco

This year, the renowned World Press Photo Contest drew more than 73,000 entries from around the world, from 4,548 photographers. The jury shortlisted 307 photographs across eight categories, which cover major news stories including the European migrant crisis and the liberation of Mosul, through to global features exploring the rise in convenience food in China, sport in Pyongyang, North Korea, and the use of Japanese macaques in the entertainment industry.

In the accompanying Digital Storytelling Contest, which rewards the best visual journalism from digital storytellers and filmmakers, there were 308 entries across the Short Form, Long Form, Immersive Storytelling and Innovative Storytelling categories. Nominees include The New York Times for a 360 VR video diving under Atlantic sea ice, an immersive story about a Syrian’s first year as a refugee, which ran on TIME's website, and a video about President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs in the Philippines.

The great work in this contest helps us fulfil our purpose – connecting the world to the stories that matter.

Lars Boering, managing director of the World Press Photo Foundation, says the contest draws attention to stories of significance. "The best visual journalism is not of something; it is about something," he says. "It should matter to the people to whom it speaks. The great work in this 2018 edition of our contests helps us fulfil our purpose – connecting the world to the stories that matter."
A girl pictured right, Djeneta, had been bedridden and unresponsive for two-and-a-half years, and her sister Ibadeta who also suffered from the same condition for six months, lies next to her. Both have uppgivenhetssyndrom (resignation syndrome), in Horndal, Sweden. It is a condition believed to exist only amongst refugees in Sweden. Photo by Magnus Wennman.
Canon Ambassador Magnus Wennman’s Resignation Syndrome has been nominated in the People Singles category. On 2 March 2017, Djeneta (right) had been bedridden and unresponsive for two-and-a-half years, and her sister Ibadeta for more than six months, with uppgivenhetssyndrom (resignation syndrome), in Horndal, Sweden. It is a condition believed to exist only amongst refugees in Sweden. Shot on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a TS-E 45mm f/2.8 tilt-shift lens. © Magnus Wennman, Aftonbladet

Canon Ambassadors Magnus Wennman and Giulio Di Sturco are among the 42 photographers from 22 countries nominated for awards. Of these, 15 nominees – including both Magnus and Giulio – have previously won World Press Photo honours. Magnus, a Swedish photojournalist working for the Aftonbladet newspaper, is nominated in the People Singles category for his image Resignation Syndrome, showing two sisters who have been bedridden and unresponsive for two-and-a-half years in Hordal, Sweden. Uppgivenhetssyndrom, or resignation syndrome, is a condition believed to only exist amongst refugees in Sweden.

Italian photographer Giulio is shortlisted in the Contemporary Issues Singles category for his photograph charting gender reassignment surgery in Thailand. In it, Dr Suporn Watanyusakul speaks to his patient Olivia Thomas about her new body following surgery to become a woman at a hospital in Chonburi, near Bangkok.
Neil Aldridge’s Waiting For Freedom has been nominated in the Environment Singles category. On 21 September 2017, a young white rhino is drugged and blindfolded, and about to be released in Okavango Delta, Botswana, after its relocation from South Africa for protection from poachers.
Neil Aldridge’s Waiting For Freedom has been nominated in the Environment Singles category. On 21 September 2017, a young white rhino is drugged and blindfolded, and about to be released in Okavango Delta, Botswana, after its relocation from South Africa for protection from poachers. Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II with an EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens. © Neil Aldridge

New for 2018 is the Environment category, which has drawn diverse entries depicting the many threats facing the natural world. Conservation photographer Neil Aldridge captures the moment shortly before a young white rhino is released into the Okavango Delta, Botswana, after making a long journey from South Africa. Even though it is drugged and blindfolded by a striking red sash here, beefed-up protection from poachers means the animal's future looks bright.
Javier Arcenillas’ series Latidoamerica has been nominated in the Long-term Projects category. This artful picture shows the reflection of a soldier in a car window punctured with bullet holes. After years of social chaos, drug trafficking and corruption, many Latin Americans are determined to revolt against the problems afflicting their countries.
Javier Arcenillas’ series Latidoamerica has been nominated in the Long-term Projects category. After years of social chaos, drug trafficking and corruption, many Latin Americans are determined to revolt against the problems afflicting their countries. The project describes the fear, anger and impotence of victims amid the daily terror of street gangs, murder and thievery, and also addresses the recent trend of drug tourism in countries such as Colombia. Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens, in August 2017. © Javier Arcenillas, Luz

The judging process

Judging the awards is a complex process that takes three weeks, and two rounds. Entries are whittled down by specialist jurors, before the chairs of each of these juries are joined by three new members to make up the general jury. Led by Magdalena Herrera, Director of Photography of Geo France and chair of the 2018 Photo Contest Jury, the general jury select the winners, who will be announced at the Awards Show in Amsterdam on 12 April 2018. The headline award, the World Press Photo of the Year, carries a cash prize of €10,000, and the winner will also be presented with a selection of camera equipment from World Press Photo partner since 1992, Canon.
Jasper Doest’s Sacred No More has been nominated in the Nature Stories category. This picture shows Japanese macaques, best known as the snow monkey, habituated to humans and in fancy dress. An increasing macaque population in the countryside means the monkeys raid crops to survive; in cities, macaques are tamed and trained for the entertainment industry.
Jasper Doest’s Sacred No More has been nominated in the Nature Stories category. In recent years, the Japanese macaque, best known as the snow monkey, has become habituated to humans. An increasing macaque population in the countryside means the monkeys raid crops to survive; in cities, macaques are tamed and trained for the entertainment industry. He documented the story between 15 January 2016 and 2 October 2017. Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. © Jasper Doest

The prize-winning photographs will once more tour the world in the World Press Photo exhibition, with all the images printed on Canon large-format and Arizona flatbed printers. The first exhibition opens in De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, on the same day as the awards ceremony.

To find out more about Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, visit the product page.

For more must-read stories on the World Press Photo Contest, check out our World Press Photo hub.

Autorius Lucy Fulford

Canon Professional Services

Members get access to CPS Priority Support, both locally and at major events; a priority Fast Track repair service; and — depending on your level of membership — free back-up equipment loans and return shipping on maintenance. They can also regularly enjoy exclusive members’ offers.

Find out more and apply

A CPS member looking pleased with his Canon photography equipment