The World at WestLicht
The World at WestLicht
September 13, 2018
© Ronaldo Schemidt, Agence France-Presse
This year’s jury chose the image Venezuela Crisis by Agence France press photographer Ronaldo Schemidt (b. 1971) as the ‘World Press Photo 2018’. The picture was taken on 3 May 2017, when people in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas took to the streets to demonstrate against the constitutional revisions proposed by President Nicolás Maduro. Amidst violent clashes between protestors and the police, the fuel tank of a motorbike exploded, setting fire to 28-year old José Víctor Salazar Balza. He survived the incident with first and second degree burns.
Further topics represented in this year’s contest include the rise of Nationalism in the USA, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, which is often underreported in the Western media, the continuing battles in northern Iraq, and the life of refugees after their arrival in Europe. For the first time, awards were given out in the newly established category Environment, which focuses on man’s impact on our ecosystem. The showcase marks the 17th time the winning works of the prestigious contest are presented at the WestLicht photo museum.
As icons of contemporary history, the selected images and photo series form a unique retrospective of the political, social, natural and cultural developments of the past year.
For further information visit WestLicht – Schauplatz für Fotografie
World Press Photo
© Ronaldo Schemidt, Agence France-Presse
© Jesco Denzel, laif
© George Steinmetz, for National Geographic
© Espen Rasmussen, Panos Pictures, VG
© Neil Aldridge