In our increasingly image-driven world, it’s comforting to know that photojournalism continues to be a significant and powerful conduit for all the stories it’s easy to neglect. In this round-up of winning and running-up submissions to the annual World Press Photo Contest, award-winning photographers have captured the heartbreaking, the stunning and the sometimes lovely. Pictures span a spectrum from the politically suggestive (“Contemporary Issues” category) to the familiar (“Daily Life”) to the movement-driven (“Sports”).
A Portrait of Domestic Violence, Sarah Naomi Lewkowicz
Ms. Lewkowicz chronicles a scene from the highly fraught relationship of Maggie and Shane, of Millersport, Ohio.
Typhoon Survivors, by Philippe Lopez
In the picture above, survivors of this year’s disastrous Typhoon Haiyan march across the island of Leyte. Haiyan displaced more than four million Filipino residents, and killed some 8,000 people.
Blind Indian Albino Boys, Brent Stirton
With the image above, Mr. Stirton spotlights one of the few schools for the blind in India’s West Bengal.
Kachin Fighters, Julius Schrank
Mr. Schrank captures fighters in the Kachin Independence Army, who manage to celebrate the recent death of a comrade despite the fact that their city is under siege.
Signal, John Stanmeyer
In this year’s winning photo, Mr. Stanmeyer captures African migrants on the shores of Djibouti city as they seek an inexpensive phone signal from neighboring Somalia.
Bonobos, Our Unknown Cousins, Christian Ziegler
In this intimate photo, Mr. Ziegler captures a resting Bonobo. These primates are our closest living relatives on earth, but their habitat is threatened daily by illegal meat trade and the ongoing destruction of their habitat.
A Lingerie League of Their Own, Alyssa Schukar
Players from the US Legends Football League (particularly, The Omaha Hearts) prepare for a game in the photo above.
Days of Night – Nights of Day, Elena Chernyshova
The city factory of Norlisk, Russia (a compound of mines and metallurgical workshops) brings in 2% of Russia’s GDP. Above, Ms. Chernyshova catches this churning world in action.
Nicolette At The Orphanage, Maciek Nabrdalik
The young Nicolette sits in an orphanage in Warsaw, Poland, after being taken away from her family.
Free Diving With Sharks, Donald Miralle
In this photo, shark conservationist Ocean Ramsey resurfaces from a free dive off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii.
All images courtesy of the World Press Photo Awards. You can find the rest of the winning images here.
