The World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform connecting professionals and audiences through raw visual journalism and storytelling. The organisation was founded in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organised a contest to expose their work to an international audience. Since then, the contest has grown into the world's most prestigious photography competition and global travelling exhibition.
The 64th edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition will touch down in Sydney this year and be on display at the State Library of New South Wales from Saturday, May 15–Monday, June 14. The winners from this year's contest were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed 74,470 photographs by 4315 photographers from 130 countries — with more than 150 images from 45 photographers in 28 countries included in the exhibition.
Taking top honours for 2020: Mads Nissen's First Embrace. The COVID-19 pandemic was always going to play a part in this year's batch of winners, with the image showing 85-year-old Rosa Luzia Lunardi being embraced by nurse Adriana Silva da Costa Souza at the Viva Bem care home in São Paulo, Brazil. This will be on display alongside other finalists, such as Luis Tato's stunning image of locust swarms in Kenya — and eye-catching images in other categories, such as contemporary issues, the environment, general news, nature, portraits and sports.
The First Embrace © Mads Nissen, Denmark, Politiken/Panos Pictures
Top image: Fighting Locust Invasion in East Africa © Luis Tato, Spain, for The Washington Post.