Described as the world’s most prestigious exhibition of international photojournalism, the World Press Photo Exhibition returns in 2019 at Smith & Caughey’s in Queen Street from June 29 until July 28.
The prize-winning photographs on display at the exhibition are the result of a worldwide annual contest on press photography. The 2019 contest drew entries from 4,738 photographers from 129 countries who submitted 78,801 images.
For the 2019 contest, photographer John Moore’s “Crying Girl on the Border” took the top prize of World Press Photo of the Year. The photo features a crying Honduran child as United States border officials in McAllen, Texas take her and her mother into custody back in June of 2018. This photo is a snapshot in time when the Trump Administration had announced a ‘zero tolerance’ immigration policy at the border that led to many parents being separated from their children.
Other top honours on display include the first ever World Press Photo Story of the Year award. Photographer Pieter Ten Hoopen took home this award for his “The Migrant Caravan”. The series documents a migrant caravan, heading to the United States border, with about 7,000 travellers fleeing political repression, violence, and harsh economic conditions.
Open seven days a week, tickets for the exhibition can be purchased on the ground floor kiosk inside Smith & Caughey’s. Tickets range from $12 to $20 each.