Just over a week left to have a look at the World Press Photo exhibition at the State Library of New South Wales, finishing 22 June. In an age of increasing media fragmentation, and with it the disappearance of more and more publications, it is impressive to see how fiercely the flame of documentary photography still burns.

1st Prize People ““ Observed Portraits Single
Markus Schreiber, Germany, The Associated Press
13 December 2013, Pretoria, South Africa
A woman reacts in disappointment after access to see former South Africa President Nelson Mandela was closed on the third and final day of his casket lying in state, outside Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa.
The annual exhibition showcases around 200 photographs in ten categories, selected from more than 100,000 entries.
The World Press Photo of the Year 2013 was an image by American photographer John Stanmeyer of the VII Photo Agency, which was shot for National Geographic. This picture also won 1st Prize in the Contemporary Issues category.

World Press Photo of the Year 2013
John Stanmeyer, USA, VII for National Geographic
26 February 2013, Djibouti City, Djibouti
African migrants on the shore of Djibouti city at night, raising their phones in an attempt to capture an inexpensive signal from neighboring Somalia””a tenuous link to relatives abroad. Djibouti is a common stop-off point for migrants in transit from such countries as Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, seeking a better life in Europe and the Middle East.
Local Getty Images photographers, Chris McGrath, Ezra Shaw and Quinn Rooney have been selected as category winners by the international jury of the 57th annual World Press Photo Contest.

3rd Prize Sports Action Stories
Quinn Rooney, Australia, Getty Images
27 April 2013, Adelaide, Australia
Daniel Arnamnart of Australia competes in the men’s 100-meter backstroke during day two of the Australian Swimming Championships on 27 April 2013 at SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide, Australia.
Chris McGrath was awarded first prize in the General News, Stories section, while Ezra Shaw and Quinn Rooney obtained second and third prizes, respectively, in the Sports Action, Stories category. Also receiving a Special Mention was a six-image series taken by amateur photographer, Tim Holmes from the town of Dunalley, Tasmania, Australia, where 90 homes were destroyed by wildfires during a period of record high temperatures.

2nd Prize Sports Action Single
Andrzej Grygiel, Poland, for PAP-Polska Agencja Prasowa
24 March 2013, Szczyrk, Poland
Competitor at a slalom contest in Szczyrk, Poland

3rd Prize Nature Stories
Christian Ziegler, Germany, for National Geographic Magazine
25 January 2011, Congo
A five-year-old bonobo turns out to be the most curious individual of a wild group of bonobos near the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite being humans’ closest living relatives, little is known about Bonobos and their behavior in the wild in remote parts of the Congo basin. Bonobos are threatened by habitat loss and bush meat trade.

1st Prize Daily Life Single
Julius Schrank, Germany, De Volkskrant
15 March 2013, Burma
Kachin Independence Army fighters are drinking and celebrating at a funeral of one of their commanders who died the day before. The city is under siege by the Burmese army.
The exhibition at the State Library of New South Wales ends 22 June 2014. Entry is free of charge. For an overview of all the winners visit: http://www.worldpressphoto.org/awards/2014.
World Press Photo is sponsored worldwide by Canon.
See additional mages in Photo Review Mag app June 2014 issue