The World Press Photo Foundation has revealed the finalists of one of the most coveted awards in photojournalism. Picking from 73,996 photos submitted by over 4,200 photographers from 125 countries, the judges have identified six images that will go toe to toe for the title of World Press Photo of the Year, 2020.
This week’s announcement revealed all of the nominees for this year’s awards, including the six finalists for World Press Photo of the Year, the three finalists for World Press Photo Story of the Year, and three finalists for each of the eight categories included in the 2020 Photo Contest. The images below represent the best single photographs of the whole lot—ostensibly the six most important images out of over 73,000.
“Especially in the times we’re living in, when we have a lot of violence, a lot of conflict, it’s important that we have an image that inspires people,” said 2020 judge Lekgetho Makola, speaking about the nominated images for World Press Photo of the Year. “Every single image that made it to that level is a good image technically, so it’s no longer just about just judging around the technique. It’s about the potential impact of the image to a society.”
Scroll down to see the six images that this year’s judges chose to represent this incredibly high standard of photojournalism and societal impact.
Relative Mourns Flight ET 302 Crash Victim by Mulugeta Ayene
Image Caption: A relative of a victim of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 throws dirt in her face as she grieves at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302, outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 14 March 2019.
Clash with the Police During Anti-Government Demonstration by Farouk Batiche
Image Caption: Students scuffle with riot police during an anti-government demonstration in Algiers, Algeria, on 21 May.
Straight Voice by Yasuyoshi Chiba
Image Caption: A young man, illuminated by mobile phones, recites a poem while protestors chant slogans calling for civilian rule, during a blackout in Khartoum, Sudan, on 19 June.
Awakening by Tomek Kaczor
Image Caption: A 15-year-old Armenian girl who has recently woken from catatonic state brought on by Resignation Syndrome, sits in a wheelchair, flanked by her parents, in a refugee reception center in Podkowa Leśna, Poland.
Injured Kurdish Fighter Receives Hospital Visit by Ivor Prickett
Image Caption: Ahmed Ibrahim (18), a badly burned SDF fighter, is visited by his girlfriend at a hospital in Al-Hasakah, Syria, on 20 October. She had at first been reluctant to enter the room, as she was horrified by his injuries, but a nurse persuaded her to go in to hold Ahmed’s hand and have a short conversation.
Nothing Personal – the Back Office of War by Nikita Teryoshin
Image Caption: A businessman locks away a pair of anti-tank grenade launchers at the end of an exhibition day, at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 18 February.
The winners of the 2020 World Press Photo of the Year Contest will be announced on April 16th and exhibited around the world starting April 18th, but in the meantime, you can see all of the nominated images and hear more from the judges of the 2020 Photo Contest on the WPP website.