See the Stunning Winners in the 2014 World Press Photo Contest

American photojournalist John Stanmeyer has been named winner of the 57th Annual World Press Photo Contest. The competition's international judging panel named Stanmeyer's photo, 'Signal', both the overall winner and first prize in the contemporary issues category. Shot for National Geographic Magazine on the shores of Djibouti, the image (shown above) captures African migrants holding up their phones, hoping to tap into cheap signal from neighbouring Somalia. En route to new lives in Europe and the Middle East, they're trying to make contact with loved ones elsewhere.

Commenting on the winning image, judge Jillian Edelstein said, "It's a photo that is connected to so many other stories — it opens up discussions about technology, globalisation, migration, poverty, desperation, alienation, humanity. It's a very sophisticated, powerfully nuanced image. It is so subtly done, so poetic, yet instilled with meaning, conveying issues of great gravity and concern in the world today.”

The competition received over 98,000 submissions and granted prizes to 53 photographers of 25 nationalities across categories ranging from sports to nature to world news. Following controversy last year, stricter image manipulation guidelines apparently saw 8 percent of entries disqualified. Winning photographs will now tour over 45 countries as an international exhibition.

See the full gallery of winners at the World Press Photo website.

3rd Prize in Daily Life Category: "Street Dogs," Julie McGuire, UK

1st prize in Spot News (singles) category: Typhoon Survivors, Philippe Lopez, France

2nd prize in Spot News (stories) category: Massacre at Westgate Mall, Tyler Hicks, USA

3rd Prize in Staged Portraits (singles) category: Chiwetel Ejlofor, Nadav Kander, UK

1st Prize in General News (singles) category: Temporary Accommodation, Alessandro Penso, Italy

Third Prize in Sports Action (singles) category: Forehand Foreward, Al Bello, USA

2nd Prize in Nature (singles) category: A flock of Guillemots, Markus Varsvuo, Finland

1st prize in Contemporary Issues (stories) category: A Portrait of Domestic Violence, Sara Naomi Lewkowicz

3rd Prize in Observed Portraits (singles) category: A Traditional Berber Bride, Pau Barrena, Spain

2nd prize in Sports Feature (singles) category: Kite Skier on the Mountain, Anastas Tarpanov, Bulgaria