UNTITLED

UNEDITED SAMPLE FEATURE ARTICLE
By Marian Denise Glipo Basallote
IV - Madame Marie Curie


I never see the world in shades of white and black. I am always bewildered by the striking colors surrounding me. I even desire to steal shots of those vibrant colors because of my thirst for beauty and passion.

It was a privilege for me to get a very close look on various stunning photographs exhibited by the World Press Photo, which is an independent nonprofit organization founded in Netherlands. The organization’s main aim is to internationally support and promote the work of profession press photographers. I, together with Mr. Alixander Haban Escote, two other campus journalists from our school, and several campus journalists from the Division of Makati, visited the photo exhibit at the Mall of Asia last Saturday, August 9, 2008.

We were first given viewing guides for press photographs for our own convenience We were able to grasp ideas regarding the matter when it had been discussed briefly by Mr. Jimmy Domingo, a photojournalist from the Ateneo de Manila University,. He then gave us an ample time in viewing the elegant display of photographs found inside the mall.

When my eyes fixed its gaze upon the seemingly alive photographs, I found myself indulged in a completely different dimension of life. There was a lot to discover, learn and realize from the photographs that appeared before me. Each photograph revealed an interesting story of its own. Eventually, I was able to discern the truth, which we oftentimes deny, encompassing all the nations of the world. The truth could not be concealed elsewhere because it kept on showing itself. The photographs were clear manifestations of the dreadful truth that the world continues to live in chaos, crime, violence, injustice and hopelessness.

The winners in the Annual World Press Photo contest, who were responsible for the photographs on display, fulfilled a challenging task, which is accepted only by brave souls, of exposing the shadows of the society. They were able to prove their worth in receiving such awards.

Tim Hetherington (UK, for Vanity Fair) bagged the award of the World Press Photo of the Year 2007. For the Spot News category, John Moore (USA, Getty Images) received the first prize singles; Bold Hungwe (Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Independent) received the second prize singles; Stephen Morrison (Canada, European Pressphoto Agency) received the third prize singles; Emilio Morenatti (Spain, The Associated Press) was considered an honorable mention; John Moore (USA, Getty Images) received the first prize stories; Roberto Schmidt (Colombia/Germany, Agence France-Presse) received the second prize stories; and Mike Kamber (USA, The New York Times) received the third prize stories.

For the General News category, Balazs Gardi (Hungary, VII Network/Alexia Foundation), Stanley Greene (USA, Noor), Takagi Tadatomo (Japan) and Christoph Bangert (Germany, Laif for Stern) received the first prize singles, second prize singles, third prize singles and honorable mention, respectively. Balazs Gardi (Hungary, VII Network/Alexia Foundation), Tim Hetherington (UK, for Vanity Fair) and Cédric Gerbehaye (Belgium, Agence Vu) received the first, second and third prize stories, respectively.

For the People in the News category, Yonathan Weitzman (Israel) received the first prize singles; Carol Guzy (USA, Washington Post) received the second prize singles; Daniel Berehulak (Australia, Getty Images) received the third prize singles; Philippe Dudouit (Switzerland, for Time magazine) received the first prize stories; Francesco Zizola (Italy, Noor for Internazionale) received the second prize stories; and Oded Balilty (Israel, The Associated Press) received the third prize stories.

For the Sports in Action category, Ivaylo Velev (Bulgaria, Bul X Vision Photography Agency), Frank Wechsel (Germany, Spomedis) and Miguel Barreira (Portugal, Record) received the first, second and third prize singles, respectively. Tim Clayton (Australia, Sydney Morning Herald), Fei Maohua (China, Xinhua News Agency) and Chris Detrick
(USA, The Salt Lake Tribune) received the first, second and third prize stories, respectively.

For the Sports Features category, Andrew Quilty (Australia, Oculi for Australian Financial Review Magazine) received the first prize for singles while Erik Refner
(Denmark, Berlingske Tidende) received the first prize for stories. Miguel Riopa
(Spain, Agence France-Presse) and Erika Larsen (USA, Redux Pictures for Field & Stream Magazine) both received the second price for singles and stories, while Tomasz Gudzowaty & Judit Berekai (Poland/Hungary, Yours Gallery/Focus Fotoagentur) and Travis Dove (USA) received the third prize for the singles and stories, respectively.

For the Contemporary Issues category, Brent Stirton (South Africa, Reportage by Getty Images for Newsweek) and Jean Revillard (Switzerland, Rezo.ch) received the first prize for singles and stories. Zsolt Szigetváry (Hungary, MTI) received the second prize for singles while Lorena Ros (Spain, Panos Pictures) received the second prize for stories. William Daniels (France) and Olivier Culmann (France, Tendance Floue, for Guardian Weekend magazine) received the third prize for singles and stories, respectively.

For the Daily Life category, Justin Maxon (USA, Aurora Photos), Benjamin Lowy
(USA, VII Network), and Vladimir Vyatkin (Russia, Ria Novosti) received the first, second and third prizes for singles, while Pieter ten Hoopen
(The Netherlands, Agence Vu), Carolyn Drake (USA, Panos Pictures), and Christopher Anderson (Canada, Magnum Photos for National Geographic Magazine) won the first, second and third prize, respectively.

In the category of Portraits, Platon (UK, for Time magazine) and Vanessa Winship (UK, Agence Vu) won the first prize for singles and stories. Chuck Close (USA, New York Magazine) and Benjamin Lowy (USA, VII Network for The New York Times Magazine) won the second prize for singles and stories, while Simona Ghizzoni (Italy, Agenzia Contrasto) and Lana Slezic (Canada, Panos Pictures) bagged the third prize for singles and stories.

For the Arts and Entertainment category, Ariana Lindquist (USA) and Rafal Milach (Poland, Anzenberger Agency) managed to take home the first prize for singles and stories, Stefano De Luigi (Italy, D La Repubblica delle Donne) and Massimo Siragusa (Italy, Agenzia Contrasto) received the second prize for singles and stories, while Qi Xiaolong (China, Tianjin Daily) and Cristina García Rodero (Spain, Magnum Photos) received the third prize for singles and stories.

Finally, in the Nature category, Fang Qianhua (China, Nangfang Dushi Daily/Southern Metropolis Daily) received the first prize for singles, Jeff Hutchens (USA, Reportage by Getty Images for CNN) received the second prize, and Damon Winter (USA, The New York Times) received the third prize for singles. David Liittschwager (USA, National Geographic Images) received the first prize in stories, and Paul Nicklen (Canada, National Geographic Magazine) received both the second and third prize for stories.

These professional press photographers served as an inspiration and provided great awareness to my being. With their photographs, I was able to penetrate through the realities of life and thus, I was able to witness both its harshness and kindness.

I never saw the world in shades of white and black. I was usually amazed by the striking colors surrounding me. I even desired to steal shots of those vibrant colors because of my thirst for beauty and passion. Nothing much has changed. But, now, my thirst has been complettely quenched because photographs made it possible.

REFERENCES:

http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_photogallery&task=blogsection&id=18&type=byname&Itemid=188&bandwidth=low

http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=