The story behind the World Press Photo
Last edited Wed Feb 22, 2012, 07:04 AM - Edit history (1)
This photograph by Spanish photographer Samuel Aranda was recently awarded first place in the World Press Photo Award and has gone on to generate many column inches of analysis and debate.
It is a powerful picture, both in terms of the content and aesthetics. The pose has been likened to Michelangelo's Pieta and the Renaissance style of lighting elevates it from an illustrative news picture to something that has a heritage.
Yet of course, it was just one of 100,000 entries to this year's World Press Photo competition and follows in the footsteps of other winners of a similar nature, including Georges Merillon's picture from 1990 and Hocine's 1997 winner. Both have similar painterly qualities and depict moments of high emotion. The scars of conflict or loss have featured prominently through later years, with Merillon's pictures seemingly a turning point. Prior to that, the winning pictures tended to be of dramatic moments, or shocking photographs of the dead. That was certainly the first year where the aesthetics of the picture played an important part in its impact.
At first glance it is easy to assume that this is a mother or wife cradling a loved one who has been killed. We are used to such images, those that sometimes lead to photography being accused of simply placing mute figures inside a frame. Where is the voice of the subject ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/17111673
More here on this link : http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2145521/world-press-photo-winning-image-reference-michelangelos-piet
= new reply since forum marked as read
I found it on my Beeb homepage, but didn't think to post it here. 
Amazingly powerful photo--lighting, composition, it all comes together.
SG
because of copyright issues although I must confess I was tempted.
Have you ever seen the Pietre ? Its on the right just inside the main door of St Peter's behind armoured glass to prevent some hooligan attacking it with a hammer again as happened back in 1972 - an arm fell off breaking the fingers when the hand hit the floor.
when I was in St. Peter's years ago. That was just before the attack, so I was able to see it up close and personal.
There's also a lovely Pietà by Coustou behind the main altar in Notre Dame de Paris. Created much later (early 18th c.) with nothing like the power of MA's, but worth the visit.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prajnadhyana/6250336053/
Sorry I can't post the pic, but I don't know how! 
SG
But this one isn't :
In general - right click on image, click on copy image location, got to where you are posting DU , hold down control key and tap V to paste into you post.
Richard.
I'm writing down the instructions and will give it a try! Cheers, Surya 
