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Photography
GALLERY: 50 winners in the World Press Photo contest
Stunning images from some of the world’s best photographers.
WAR, LOSS, LOVE, triumph and failure are all themes portrayed beautifully through the winning images of the World Press Photo contest 2012.
Split into the nine themed categories, including contemporary issues, observed portraits, staged portraits, daily life, sports action, general news, sports feature, nature and spot news, the pictures reflect global life as it was in 2012.
Europe’s austerity demonstrations, Syria’s conflict, Central America’s gang problems, Middle East tensions and London’s games all feature in the winning gallery. But it’s not just the big events – powerful glimpses of daily life are also favoured by some of the talented photographers.
Here are 50 of the best. (The overall winner, an image of a burial of two small children in Gaza, can be seen here.)
Zuzia - Staged Portraits, 3rd
Whale Sharks - Nature, 3rd
Warm Up - Sports Action, 2nd
Victims of Forced Love - Observed Portraits, 1st
The Pink Choice - Contemporary Issues, 1st
The Golden Touch - Sports Action, 2nd
The Cage - Nature Stories, 2nd
Synchronized Swimmer - Sports Action, 3rd
Sumo Wrestler - Sports Feature, 2nd
Sudan Border Wars - General News, 3rd
Southern Cassowary - Nature, 1st
School for Less Fortunate - Contemporary Issues, Honorable Mention
Pool Hall Attack - Contemporary Issues, 2nd
Pepper Spray - General News, Honourable Mention
People of Mercy - Staged Portraits, 1st
Pacified Favela - Daily Life, Honourable Mention
Natalia - Contemporary Issues, Honourable Mention
Mournful - Staged Portraits, 2nd
Miss My Parents So Much - Staged Portraits, 3rd
Mirella - Daily Life Stories, 1st
Mirella - Daily Life Stories, 1st
Mirella - Daily Life Stories, 1st
Mimin - Nature, 2nd
Migrant Sex Workers - Daily Life Stories, 2nd
Martin - Observed Portraits, 3rd
Lone Chaw Lethwei Gym - Sports Feature, 3rd
London 2012 - An Overview - Sports Action, 3rd
London 2012 - An Overview II - Sports Action, 3rd
Little Survivor - Observed Portraits, 1st
Life in War - Contemporary Issues, 2nd
Life in War - Contemporary Issues, 2nd
Kayla - Observed Portraits, 3rd
Joy at the End of the Run - Sports Action, 1st
Interrogation - Spot News, 2nd
In the Shadow of Wounded Knee
I just want to dunk - Sports Feature, 1st
Gaza - Spot News, 1st
Football in Guinea-Bissau - Daily Life, 1st
Emperor Penguins - Nature Stories, 1st
El Salvador Gangs - Daily Life Stories, 3rd
Daniel Kaluuya - Staged Portraits, 1st
Cross Country Steeplechase - Sports Action, 1st
Collaborator - Spot News, 3rd
Bullfighter's Comback - Observed Portraits, 2nd
Bonnie - Observed Portraits, 2nd
Barcelona Demonstrations - Contemporary Issues, 3rd
At the Dining Hall - Daily Life, 3rd
At the Dandora Dump - Contemporary Issues, 1st
Aida - General News, 1st
Ai Weiwei - Staged Portraits, 2nd
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