The other photos that stayed with us
Jury members of the 2020 Photo Contest talk about some of their favorite nominees and why they made such an impact
It’s pretty obvious if you watch the jury perspective video that this year’s nominees for World Press Photo of the Year have made a lasting impression on the jury. But as the contest recognizes nominees in eight categories — Contemporary Issues, Environment, Nature, Portraits, Long-Term Projects, and Sports, in addition to General News, and Spot News — there is actually a wealth of photographic talent that you’d miss out on if you only looked at the Year nominees.
To get a better sense of this, I asked some members of the General Jury to select one or two other single pictures or stories that also made an impact upon them. Here, they explain their selections, and what exactly it was that moved them:
Lekgetho Makola, South Africa
Head of Market Photo Workshop
“The world is experiencing horrific murders and hate crimes on transgender communities across the world. The continent of Africa, due to its diverse beliefs and practices, contributes immensely to these crimes, with some countries using archaic colonial legislations to ‘ban’ gender non-conforming and LGBTIQ+ communities and individuals from living their lives freely. The irony to these homophobic attitudes and reactions is that LGBTIQ+ communities and individuals have been a part of human evolution since human memory. South Africa, being one of the most violent countries outside of war zones, has seen horrific hate crimes. This photograph represents social activists that have adopted strategies of occupying public spaces where in which these hate crimes and attitudes exist.”
Tanvi Mishra, India
Photo editor, curator, and creative director, The Caravan
“This project really stayed with me, not just because it is one that is a gender focussed story, but because it looks at the intersection of religion and gender. In today’s world, where across the world the Muslim identity, and its expression, is one that has suffered persecution and is looked at with fear and suspicion, this project presents a refreshing perspective. At a time when a lot of mainstream (but polarised) thought looks at religious education, particularly that of Muslims, as one that harbours extremism, this project helps us reimagine, and breaks stereotypes, what these spaces of religious education, but also community and friendship look like. For me, the photographer manages to look at this group of young girls, coming-of-age, in a tender and intimate manner. I had a hunch [during judging] that this work was made by a woman, perhaps because of her gaze, almost as if she is an insider to their community. I distinctly remember looking at some of the images, and being pleasantly surprised at the agency afforded to the girls being photographed, and the confidence and body language some of them exhibited in front of the camera. For all of the debate across the world about women in burqas, of whether it is a regressive cultural trait, whether they have agency in the decision, or whether it aligns with a feminist practice, etc — this work has the capacity to lend a new visual vocabulary to how women in burqas or in religious education may be seen. It is this intersectionality that interests me in this work. While it is a nominee in long-term stories, it manages to address a critical contemporary issue in a gentle, and even uplifting manner.”
Chris McGrath, Australia
Photographer for Getty Images
“I really love this photograph, it really jumped out at me. The picture is made by the expression of a curious polar bear! The mood and composition initially grabbed my attention, but as I moved around the image, the polar bear’s stance and inquisitiveness started to make me ask questions. With the environment and climate change being such timely issues, this image creatively brought together two worlds: the natural and the man-made. Here we have a curious polar bear checking out what scientists are doing monitoring his world and he seems as perplexed about that as we are of his world. For me, throughout the judging process I was always looking for images that not only had all the normal elements of a good photograph and communicate important issues, but they needed to have a little something else; something that set them apart from the other images, and in most cases that was a moment, or a feeling that was evoked. This image had that, with the photographer managing to capture a wonderful moment that helps to highlight important content while also bringing a little humor, to make the viewer smile.”
Pete Muller, USA
Photographer and multimedia producer
“I was deeply moved by the story of the older Japanese men playing rugby. It was such a wonderful, touching story that grapples with such elemental aspects of human experience: aging, community, perseverance. The subject matter was a surprise and the breadth of moments that the photographer selected was indicative of their sensitivity and honesty about the topic and those who participate. It’s not often that a photo essay makes you feel such a broad array of things. I loved that story. Frankly, I thought the sports category was among the most inspiring and exciting.”
You can see all the nominees in the 2020 World Press Photo Contests at www.worldpressphoto.org. There are nine nominated digital storytelling productions, and a total of 44 nominated photographers from 24 countries (singles and stories) in the photo contest.
