Photography enthusiasts can enjoy more than 200 moving and provocative images in the prestigious World Press Photo exhibition which opens on 24 May at the State Library of NSW in Sydney.
The exhibition showcases the works of photographers from around the world, including three Australians. The winners of the 57th World Press Photo Contest were selected from over 100,000 entries with Australians Chris McGrath, Ezra Shaw and Quinn Rooney from Getty Images clinching the honours in the sports photography categories.
The third place prize winner in the sports action category of the World Press Photos. Image by Quinn Rooney, Getty Images.
The coveted World Press Photo of the Year 2014 was awarded to American photographer John Stanmeyer for his striking night time picture of African migrants on the shore of Djibouti city raising there mobile phones in an attempt to capture an inexpensive signal from nearby Somalia. The photo also gained first prize in the contemporary category.
The World Press Photo of the Year shows migrants on the shore of Dijbouti city. Image by John Stanmeyer.
Alex Byrne, NSW state librarian and chief executive said: "Providing access to stories and information, whether in the written or visual form, is at the heart of what we do and without World Press Photo, documentary photography from around the world may otherwise remain unseen by the general public."
Visitors to the State Library's galleries will also be able to enjoy Sydney Morning Herald Photos1440 - featuring the best published and unpublished work by Herald photographers from the past year.
World Press Photo 2014 and Photos1440 are free exhibitions at the State Library from 24 May to 22 June. Galleries open to 5pm and 8pm on Thursday. There are extended hours to 8pm on June 16-18.
Image by John Stanmeyer
