This is the best photo of the year?!

[Seven||Seven]

So this was deemed the best photo of the year by World Press Photo....

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n38/No_7/overall.jpg

Really?...really?

View the complete winners gallery here. (http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=blogsection&id=17&Itemid=146&bandwidth=high)

[rdsmith3]

Given that these are press photos, not artistic attempts, and once I learned the context of it, I like it. The contrast between the seemingly rich and oblivious young people, and bombed out Beirut, is interesting.

[Zilly]

looked at this in the book that was released compared to some of the images in their this one was poor IMHO

[chauncey]

World Press What does that mean. What does it comprise. Who are the members. Are they Kyoto type people? Oops, wrong forum.

[Seven||Seven]

@Chauncey. International non-profit organization of photojournalists.

I understand context, composition, technical proficiency and story but there were better photos submitted in every respect.

I was just wondering if I totally missed something about that particular picture which led to it being named Photo of the Year by an international body of photojournalists when you have this one (http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=view&id=833&Itemid=146&bandwidth=high), or this one (http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=view&id=867&Itemid=146&bandwidth=high) or this one (http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=view&id=828&Itemid=146&bandwidth=high)...

[nicksan]

I don't get it either.
I understand the premise for the photo but it's so blatant. Leaves nothing to the imagination. Yeah I get it...rich people with car, torn apart background.:rolleyes:

Must be the "eye candy" in the car...;)

Looking at the gallery, there are so much more worthy captures in there...

[airfrogusmc]

Good photo yes! best? I donno.

Take it apart. First for the visual/design element.
It has the classic triangle. The triangle is formed by the car on the bottom to the folks on the LEFT (sorry); well better to show..
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airfrogusmc/overall.jpg

There is a triadic color scheme in this almost monochromatic image. Strong primaries red yellow and blue. There are some other strong design elements going on also but I don't want to write war & peace this AM.

As far as what the image is communicating which in my opinion is the real strength of it. You have these affluent people going to see first hand a horrible situation probably in a area the never go to. The way they are dressed as opposed to the folks on the street. Kind of like going to the zoo or a ride at universal studios. This is not their world.

Reminds me of the guy from the affluent suburb going into the inner city to take images of the homeless and less fortunate. To really get great photographs in my opinion ya can't just come in shoot a while and leave. Look at the photographers that were very successful at that type of imagery like Diane Arbus or Bruce Davidson. Arbus went into a mental institute and lived there to take these extraordinary images of the people that lived there. She brought a real humanness to them and took some extraordinary images she wouldn't have been able to get as a tourist just passing through. Bruce Davidson went and lived on east 100th st were he worked on the street with a view camera and took some incredible images of the people that lived there.

Then there are the expressions on the faces and the cell phones really place it in time.

Best hmmmm I donno. Good yes.

[airfrogusmc]

If anyones interested here links to Davidson
http://www.art-dept.com/artists/davidson/
If it doesn't take you there directly there go to East 100th st and click. Check the image of the young couple with the street in the back ground. OUTSTANDING IMAGE

[Zilly]

I see what your saying Airfrogusmc but flicking threw the book i feel their were some much stonger images this one just seems a little flat compared to some of the others

its a great book can be found in the photographic section of most good book shops
some of it is really moving and has pushed m e more into wanting to go in to war and disaster correspondence

[Flame]

There was an article in ProPhoto Magazine here in Australia (July 2007) with Spencer Platt, the photographer, where he explains the photo and all the controversy around it because it can be perceived in different ways.

Basically he said that the people in the car aren't rich kids sight-seeing, they are all from the neighbourhood and are returning after the ceasefire (southern-Beirut, mid-2006) to see what was left of their homes. He stated that there were both Christians and a Muslim in that car.

I can't comment on whether it should have won or not as I haven't seen any of the others but I thought people might have liked to have known the story behind this photo.

Kind regards

[NZDoug]

I think it shows a changing world and its values.
But I dont think its going to go that way.....:oops:

[Pete W]

There was an article in ProPhoto Magazine here in Australia (July 2007) with Spencer Platt, the photographer, where he explains the photo and all the controversy around it because it can be perceived in different ways.

Basically he said that the people in the car aren't rich kids sight-seeing, they are all from the neighbourhood and are returning after the ceasefire (southern-Beirut, mid-2006) to see what was left of their homes. He stated that there were both Christians and a Muslim in that car.

I can't comment on whether it should have won or not as I haven't seen any of the others but I thought people might have liked to have known the story behind this photo.

Kind regards

Sorry but how does he know that.. Err excuse me what religion are you.......

Think him a chancer and no way is that a photo of the year..... Having to explain a picture defeats the object surely....

[blackshadow]

It's a fantastic image IMHO - I saw it a few months ago... in the context it is an excellent press photo and shows the dichotomy between the rich young kids in the car and the families picking through the rubble of their homes after the Israelis bombed the hell out of Lebanese homes.

[blackshadow]

Think him a chancer and no way is that a photo of the year..... Having to explain a picture defeats the object surely....
The photographer is far from a "chancer" - I suggest you do a google search to learn a little about Spencer Platt.

Photojournalism isn't about pretty photos - it's about photos with impact that don't need words to describe the story. One image - it tells the whole story.

[blackshadow]

For a bit more understanding of how the award works take a look at http://www.worldpressphoto.org/

It sets out the selection and judging criteria... it's very much professional and above board, and very well respected.

[Pete]

It's kind of old news, isn't it? That was photo of the year last year. I remember there being a thread about it.

[primoz]

When it goes about PJ work, things are a bit different. Photo as just some photo without background, is nothing all that perfect. But when you know background story, this is actually damn great photo. There is saying that photo tells 1000 words, but with such things you should still know what is behind this photo, and not look just photo as photo. It's not studio shot without any story, so in such cases things to judge such photos are a bit different. It's not all just about composition and great colors, but mostly about story which photo is telling.

[sOid]

I don't know if anyone already said it, didn't feel like reading the whole thread ( :P) but the people on that car aren't rich. I've read an interview with them in a Dutch newspaper. They were also refugees of the war and just came back. On this particular photograph, it looks like the car is brand new and such but it has scratches, dents and stuff like that.

That said: I love the World Press Photo exhibitions, and I go see them every year. I agree there were better photographs this year than the winner. They really inspire me :)

[airfrogusmc]

Kind of interesting because my wife made the comment how polished and well dressed the folks in the car are compared to the ones on the street. Definitely a difference in class or so thats what the image is communicating.