Winning photographs in the World Press Photo of the Year 2004 international contest will go on display at the State Library of NSW, from 24 June to 17 July 2005.

 

April 27, 2005: Winning photographs in the World Press Photo of the Year 2004 international contest will go on display at the State Library of NSW, from 24 June to 17 July 2005.
The exhibition, which is sponsored by Canon Australia and supported locally by Getty Images, will showcase images that range from harrowingly graphic and confronting, to poignantly beautiful and humorous. The winning image, by Reuters photographer, Arko Datta, captures the tragedy of a woman mourning the death of a relative killed in the Asian tsunami. It was taken in Tamil Nadu, India on 28 December 2004 and is the fourth consecutive year in which the winning shot was taken by a photographer who relies on Canon cameras. Marking a first for the competition, this year is also significant in that it is the first time that all entries were judged in digital format.
Single photographs and photo stories were judged in 10 categories: Spot News, General News, People in the News, Portraits, Sports Action, Sports Features, Arts and Entertainment, Contemporary Issues, Daily Life and Nature. The winning images, were selected by the World Press Photo Foundation from a record 69,190 entries (submitted by a record 4,266 photographers) from 123 countries. The Australian winners for 2004 are:
– Adam Pretty, Getty Images, 1st prize singles, Sports Features category for 200m freestyle heats at Olympic games;
– Dean Sewell, Oculi/ Agence Vu, 1st prize stories, Spot news category for Tsunami aftermath;
– Patrick Brown, Panos Pictures, 2nd prize stories, Nature category for Poaching in Asia; and
– Trent Parke, Magnum Photos, 3rd prize singles, Daily Life category, Street scene in Wiluna, Western Australia.
The World Press Photo Foundation is an independent platform for international press photography, founded in 1955. This platform manifests itself in the annual World Press Photo of the Year Contest and the corresponding yearbook and exhibition. The Sydney exhibition can be viewed at the State Library of NSW between 9 a.m and 5 p.m between Monday and Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and selected public holidays. Entry is free of charge. For more information, phone (02) 9273 1414.