Yes it’s a cliché, but a picture does speak a thousand words. In fact, a picture may capture meanings that no words can ever express.
At the World Press Photo 2006 exhibition that has just opened in Cairo, the 200 photographs on display reflect 2005 more immediately than any news story.
World Press Photo is a Dutch non-profit foundation founded in 1955. It is a traveling exhibit featuring the work of photojournalists from all over the world who compete for the prestigious title of World Press Photo of the Year.
So far, the exhibit has traveled to about 90 venues in 40 countries.
Project manager of the World Press Photo Evelien Kunst, who flew in from Amsterdam to set up the show in Cairo, told The Daily Star Egypt that the main aim of the organization is to promote photojournalism and give it a higher profile.
She describes the event as the Oscars for photojournalists.
Any professional photojournalist can submit pictures whether he works with agencies, magazines or newspapers. A small local paper has as much chance to compete as an international organization.
Every year they invite an independent jury to select the winning images in ten categories. The international jury consists of 13 recognized professionals in the field of photography.
The categories are: Spot News, General News, People in The News, Sports Action, Sports Features, Nature, Daily Life, Portraits, Arts and Entertainment, Contemporary Issues and World Press Photo of the Year.
The exhibition shows the three best works in each of these categories.
Kunst says that the journalists do it mainly for “prestige but there is also a monetary prize.
The opening of the Cairo exhibit coincided with the graduation ceremony in honor of local photojournalists who had completed a workshop co-organized by the World Press Photo and Egyptian partner Contemporary Image Collective (CIC).
Maha Mamoun, a photographer and one of the board members of CIC, explains that about a year ago someone from the World Press Photo approached them wanting to collaborate for both hosting the exhibition and setting up this workshop to improve photojournalism in Egypt.
The workshop will be held annually.
Cairo is the final stop for World Press Photo 2006 exhibition. The 2007 finalists have already been selected and the new exhibit will open in Amsterdam late April.
For more information about World Press Photo visit their site at www.enterworldpressphoto.nl/
World Press Photo 2006El Sawy Culture CenterEnd of 26th of July St., at Aboul Feda St., Zamalek(02) 736 88 81The exhibit continues until March 14.
