World Press Photo 2012

The wind was blowing strong across the
Thames
as we 
made our way over 
Hungerford Bridge 
towards
the
Southbank Centre.
It was November after all.
A
Christmas Market
was in full swing
on the
banks of this famous waterway.
The sparkling festive lights of 
London,
viewed from this side,
created a dynamic impression.
Chestnuts were really roasting over open fires.
Trains from
Charing Cross
station, filled with 
commuters returning home
after a days work,
tumbled by as we traversed
this
 architectural wonder.
I met my friend,
Arly
at
Piccadilly Circus
& 
it was his idea to
view
The World Press Photo
exhibition.
Yes I was famished
but dinner could wait.
Photography
 is my passion
&
any opportunity to
view great photographs,
takes precedence.

"We exist to 

inspire understanding of

the world through

 quality photojournalism."

The World Press Photo

is an independent, non-profit

organisation founded in

1955

& 

is based in

 Amsterdam.

Each annual competition

seeks out winners in

many, many categories

ranging from

Spot News

to

Daily Life

to

Nature.

The
winning photographs are then
bundled up into a
 travelling exhibition,
viewed by
millions
in over
40 countries.

A book presenting all the winning entries

is

published annually

in 

6 languages.

Quite an amazing feat!

The exhibition is open to the general public 

&

admission 

is 

free.

The
SouthBank Centre
was packed with people
on the evening we visited.
Some were there for the
photographs,
while
others were simply enjoying the space.

In 

2012,

101,254

photographs

 were submitted.

5247
photographers
from
124
nationalities
competed
in what must be the
biggest
photo competition
on the
planet.

As with many
great photographs,
the images spoke
of
truth, honesty
&
clarity
of the situation
presented.

They definitely touched your emotions...

triggered a thought...

stirred your feelings...

and made you reflect!

Some of the scenes were
alarmingly shocking
&
many others were
simply
desperately nerve racking.

I was observing the viewers around 

& 

could feel the

 undulated flow

of their 

emotions,

generated by their 

personal interpretations

of what they saw.

If
education
 is on the 
agenda
of the
World Press Photo Foundation,
they are certainly doing a fantastic job
of
making us think!

Some scenes before me,
were certainly brutal.
Not exactly a
dinner aperitif.

 I'm glad I came.
Close up
 &
 up-front counts.

"We believe in the power of
visual journalism to inspire
 and
shape us."

This was a
stirling example
of the 
importance of 
photographic excellence.
Words were not necessary.
Narrative was absent
&
not missed.
A
voice
simply came forward 
from the
images,
&
sank deep within.

Not many of us would have had 

the chance 

to be presented with such 

photographic opportunities.

The cameras were the tool.

The photographer was the operator.

The subjects...

unknown to themselves,

became a 

lesson to us all.

*All the above photos

were taken by me.

Some were obviously 

photograph 

of

photographs.