World Press Photo of the Year 2006

[pcasciola]

The World Press Photo of the year for 2006 has been decided, and Spencer Platt from Getty Images is the winner with this photo of some affluent Lebanese people driving through a war zone in Beirut.

http://www.worldpressphoto.com//images/photocache/photos/2007/WPPh%20Year/World%20Press%20Photo%20of%20the%20Year_745x345x90 .jpg


The rest of the 2007 Winners Gallery can be found here:

http://www.worldpressphoto.com/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=blogsection&id=17&Itemid=146&bandwidth=high

Amazing stuff....

[tazzman270]

Judging must be rigged. That shot is lame.

[WorkingClassHero]

Judging must be rigged. That shot is lame.

Why? It's not judged on how much PP has taken place. I think it's an incredibly striking image.

[calicokat]

I like it, kind of sums things up

[Billginthekeys]

wow. there are some stunning shots in there.

[saravrose]

there are some much more emotional/dynamic shots among the winners...
http://www.worldpressphoto.com/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=view&id=838&Itemid=146&bandwidth=high

[gjl711]

Hmmm... I find all of the photos very sad. Nearly every photo was of war. So what's the message here. Want to be a great photographer, go find human misery, the worse, the better for you. How negative.

[ibdb]

Really have to agree with how depressing a significant number of those shots were. Sad commentary on the year, I guess. . .

[Stavhp]

???? how????
ALOT of better shots there......

[cdifoto]

???? how????
ALOT of better shots there......

Because of the contrast. Sharp, shiny, expensive red convertible....cruising through a war zone as if on a country drive. To top if off, one woman is on a cell phone.

[condyk]

Always been the way ever since the first competition. Thing is you don't get PJ's at birthday parties, weddings, graduations, etc ... so these style of shots need to be seen in their own context. Read any newpaper and there is rarely much good news. That's how it is.

[cdifoto]

Always been the way ever since the first competition. Thing is you don't get PJ's at birthday parties, weddings, graduations, etc ... so these style of shots need to be seen in their own context. Read any newpaper and there is rarely much good news. That's how it is.

My local paper is full of "good news" but most people consider it lame. Like "who gives a f___ if so and so got an award for ____" or "I don't give a damn that Joe E. Blow is still living at 105. He's a dino!"

So it's not like good news isn't reported or wouldn't be reported nationally/globally...it's that people don't care about it and it doesn't sell ad space.

[Strnge]

The photo is uninteresting to me. It could be a photo of some women being driven downtown where a building was being torn down for renovations, or after a collaps. (sp) There are too many people in the backround that are acting casual also. SO MANY OTHER PHOTOS WERE BETTER!

[pcasciola]

I agree with cdi-ink. It's the contrast between the people and the destruction, and the contrast between their lifestyle and ours that makes it so gripping. In the U.S., a two car fender bender on the side of the road causes a 2-3 mile backup because everyone slows down to take a look.

Remember, it's press photo of the year, and in my opinion, while many of the other shots did beat this one in other ways, to me this picture tells the biggest story.

[RikWriter]

The shot would have been more effective if it had been wider. It was too narrow, didn't give enough of a scope to the destruction.

[Wazza]

I agree what has already been said with regards to the first image.

It's of an interesting subject, definately in contrast, with a new Mini convertible, and a backdrop of destruction, however I feel it could have been composed, MUCH better. Obviously these sort of things aren't staged, so he probably had 1/2 a second to pull out camera, and click and what he saw. Either wider angle to show more car, or from a further vantage point, with a narrower depth of field would have made it better.

[a521]

Because of the contrast. Sharp, shiny, expensive red convertible....cruising through a war zone as if on a country drive. To top if off, one woman is on a cell phone.

Surely this pictue wasn't staged...right? There seems to be a common theme among the winners in the news category...lots of photos of destruction caused by Isreali bombs...smells fishy to me..too one sided. Terrorists are experts of propaganda, I think too many of those pictures look staged.

Remember all of the staged and altered photos Reuters put out? I think many of these winnners are staged too.

[saravrose]

Surely this pictue wasn't staged...right? There seems to be a common theme among the winners in the news category...lots of photos of destruction caused by Isreali bombs...smells fishy to me..too one sided. Terrorists are experts of propaganda, I think too many of those pictures look staged.

Remember all of the staged and altered photos Reuters put out? I think many of these winnners are staged too.

what the heck are you talking about?.. :rolleyes: .. the photographers aren't terrorists their photojournalists.

[Claire]

The shot would have been more effective if it had been wider. It was too narrow, didn't give enough of a scope to the destruction.

I'd also liked it better if it was wider to give the full picture, but as someone mentioned, he probably had very little time.

Surely this pictue wasn't staged...right? There seems to be a common theme among the winners in the news category...lots of photos of destruction caused by Isreali bombs...smells fishy to me..too one sided. Terrorists are experts of propaganda, I think too many of those pictures look staged.

Remember all of the staged and altered photos Reuters put out? I think many of these winnners are staged too.

I know there are staged shots around and there has been in history as well. But all in all I don't think majority shots are staged in the press. The fact is though that it's usually the tragic images that makes us FEEL something. And yes, news photos that are entered are usually the shots that the photographer feels are their best shots, and if you've been out shooting a war (eh, pardon the pun), then you'll most likely end up with very strong images. It's not really that surprising to me. Also, if you get an assignment that says "take shots of the bombin in Beirut", then you know the Editor is expecting shots that are action packed, shows the destruction of buildings, shows crying people, angry people etc etc. You KNOW what will sell, so you shoot it. Kinda like like with every other type of photography.

Every year there will be a theme in the news category. One year it's 11 Sep, then another the Tsunami, the next whatever war is going on etc.

[aussieskier]

I don't like the over all winner very much I do feel it is too narrow, among other things. I really like the emotion and the feelings conveyed in the image of the Women trying push back the Israelis. I find that image, and many others in there that are, much more powerful that the one posted here. But as always, that is just MHO

[theague]

I don't see the huge contrast in this image. There are people standing in the background on cell phones as well.

[a521]

My point was that there is an obvious slant toward bombing and destruction caused by Isreal, ignoring the THOUSANDS of rockets fired into Isreal by the terrorists, and the hundreds of bombings done by the terrorists. Two things cause me to doubt the sincerity of these photos: 1: The onsided representation, and 2: The history of terrorists to stage these kind of photo ops. I am convinced that many of those prize winning photos were staged...the dead baby, the shiny new car and the woman huddled in the destruction...I just don't buy it.

[gjl711]

This sub-thread comes dangerously close to a political discussion.

[Claire]

My point was that there is an obvious slant toward bombing and destruction caused by Isreal, ignoring the THOUSANDS of rockets fired into Isreal by the terrorists, and the hundreds of bombings done by the terrorists. Two things cause me to doubt the sincerity of these photos: 1: The onsided representation, and 2: The history of terrorists to stage these kind of photo ops. I am convinced that many of those prize winning photos were staged...the dead baby, the shiny new car and the woman huddled in the destruction...I just don't buy it.

This sub-thread comes dangerously close to a political discussion.


Well, I did write something that would have been a general question that'd fit with a521's above response in my previous post. But I deleted it before posting so not to get into a political debate...

[saravrose]

My point was that there is an obvious slant toward bombing and destruction caused by Isreal, ignoring the THOUSANDS of rockets fired into Isreal by the terrorists, and the hundreds of bombings done by the terrorists. Two things cause me to doubt the sincerity of these photos: 1: The onsided representation, and 2: The history of terrorists to stage these kind of photo ops. I am convinced that many of those prize winning photos were staged...the dead baby, the shiny new car and the woman huddled in the destruction...I just don't buy it.

soo annoyed at this statement that I almost want to pretend I didn't see it.. If you are suggesting that all or some of those images aren't real or are orchestrated for any reason is beyond contempt..

[a521]

soo annoyed at this statement that I almost want to pretend I didn't see it.. If you are suggesting that all or some of those images aren't real or are orchestrated for any reason is beyond contempt..


Yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting, some are staged, orchestrated, posed...however you want to put it. It's very common in that region.

[yodasarmpit]

Yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting, some are staged, orchestrated, posed...however you want to put it. It's very common in that region.Unlike the West, where we are not subjected to political spin [/sarcasm]

[cosworth]

Always been the way ever since the first competition. Thing is you don't get PJ's at birthday parties, weddings, graduations, etc ... so these style of shots need to be seen in their own context. Read any newpaper and there is rarely much good news. That's how it is.

This thread reinforces a point I made in another thread about the best wedding phtogs in the world. They won't ever get the recognition because they don't take images of war, despair etc.

Photography is the love of my life, but it's riddled with hypocrisy sadly.

[Stefan A]

I agree with A521 to an extent. I am not so sure these are staged photos. But it sure paints Isralies as the bad guy.


Here is a quick read on the subject - http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/editors/archives/2004/05/27why_do_most_pho.asp

And - http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/reports/The_Photo_that_Started_it_All.asp

and this too - http://www.cjrdaily.org/behind_the_news/about_those_photos_of_little_g.php

Wow - this goes on and on. There are so many web sites that talk about staged photos and anti israel bias.

Stefan