On Friday, I visited an exhibit put on by the World Press Photo Foundation that was held at the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix. The foundation believes in the power of showing and the importance of of seeing high quality visual stories. Each year they send a series of photographs on a world tour visiting 100 cities in 45 countries. Along with their annual festival in Amsterdam, these photos showcase stories that make people stop, feel, think and act.
Above are two photos I remember seeing when they were published. The small one to the left is by Brendan Smialowski and it shows President Macron of France on his 3-day visit to the U.S. for President Trump's first official state visit. The photographer caught a scene that looked way more intimate than it actually was and of course we know now that the relationship between the two men has soured completely.
The photo the right is by Australian photographer Chris McGrath. It shows an unidentified man trying to hold back the press at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul Turkey amid the growing backlash over the disappearance of the reporter Jamal Khashoggi.
I found this last photo unbelievably shocking. The photo was taken by Portuguese photographer Mario Cruz. The boy on the mattress collects recyclable trash from the Pasig River in the Philippines. The river is so polluted with plastics and garbage that in some places people can walk on top of it all. The text said that the river dumps 63,700 tons of plastic into the ocean every year. That is a sobering thought to go with a very sobering photo.
All in all, I enjoyed the exhibit very much. The photos are amazing to see, some with astounding beauty and some with incredible stories to tell. It will move on to another city after this weekend.
I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today. I'm showing a truly unique shopping experience right here in Arizona.
7 comments:
With these photos you have really caught my attention. I am going to keep an eye out for the tour coming my way.
Like Andy said, I hope the exhibit comes here.
That last photo is extremely sobering. We are ruining this planet...
Quite thought provoking.
This looks like a fabulous exhibit.
I agree with you on that last shot. Aside from the horror of the trash the little boy is heartbreaking. Living in such squalor...
Oh man, that last photo IS shocking. And I doubt the Philippine government is in a position to do much about it. This is one of those situations where we need international organizations to step in and assist -- because the damage goes beyond one country's borders.
Love this kind of exhibition Sharon, there are some amazing news photographers out there! That last shot really is a shocker, so much waste, it's horrific to see like this but we have to!
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