MELANIE WHITING
The works of top photojournalists from around the globe are on display to the public for the 58th annual World Press Photo 15 exhibition presented by the Brisbane Powerhouse.
The exhibition is part of a global tour which showcases the winning photography from the world’s most prestigious annual press photography contest World Press Photo.
Photography from last years major news events including the ebola epidemic and MH17 tragedy which tell human stories behind the image are just some of the works featured.
Danish photojournalist Mads Nissen took out the competition’s highest award with his intimate image of two gay men, Jon and Alex. The image was captured in St Petersberg, Russia where prohibitive laws on same sex couples have resulted in the social discrimination of LGBT people.
World Press Photo Project Manager Anais Conijn who attended the opening night of the Brisbane exhibition said it was “a very special moment” when Jon and Alex was declared the winner.
“I think it’s a very important story and we tend to forget that this is still an issue,” she said.
“Not just in Russia but for instance here in Australia you don’t even have legal marriage for gay couples.”
Ms Conijn said the “diversity of human kind” became an unofficial theme for this year with the photography telling different human stories.
“Technology is changing and you see photojournalists reacting in various ways in order to still distinguish themselves… or make photos that are still worthy to be published.”
Brisbane based visual-storyteller Raphaela Rosella won the portrait category of the awards with Laurinda.
Ms Rosella said the theme behind her winning portrait was about exploring young women facing social disadvantage in Australia.
“I had been working with Laurinda and her family for many years and so it had been a ritual of mine to always go there and visit them… and that’s when I made the image.”
Ms Rosella said the award has given her a platform to spread her work’s message to an international audience.
“I’m continuing to explore the same issues I have been exploring with my work, so looking at the cyclic nature of social disadvantage and the normalisation of violence”.
Brisbane is Australia’s last stop for the World Press Photo 15 exhibition which is showing throughout the month of August.
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