World Press Photo 2019 Contest Exhibition: Where images touch hearts of people.

Written by 'Tony Wild' (Antony Ochieng)

Every year across the world, amazing images of the World Press Photo contest travel the world to reach a global audience. The images are exhibited in over 100 cities in about four countries over the course of one year and seen by more than four million people worldwide. This year’s exhibition in Nairobi will be at the Hilton Square, along Moi Avenue (Opposite The Kenya National Archives) from 29th August to 8th September 2019

Antony Ochieng from PAK, Ms. Sophie Boshouwers, World Press Photo Exhibitions Manager and Curator and Njeri Mwangi, the event chief organizer at the briefing at Pawa254.

The exhibition was officially launched by the World Press Photo Exhibitions Manager and Curator. Ms. Sophie Boshouwers and the chief organizer from PAWA254, Njeri Mwangi.

World Press Photo Contest awards photographers for the best images contributing to the past year of visual journalism. It is the world's leading contest for professional press photographers, photojournalist and documentary photographers, telling stories that touch people’s hearts across the world.

Pawa254 will host four masterclasses on 2nd and 3rd September in partnership with PAK.

This year, the contest had 4,738 photographers submitting 78,801 images. The categories that won prices included: Spot News, Sports, Nature, Portraits, Long Term Projects, General News, Environment and Contemporary Issues. There were 43 nominees from 25 countries, among them, 14 female nominees. Only 12 Kenyan photographers participated in the contest, we hope the ongoing exhibition will inspire more Kenyans to join the next year’s contest.

Ms. Sophie Boshouwers is the exhibition curator. The 2019 World Press Photo Exhibition can be seen in Nairobi from today, 29th August to 8th September at the Hilton Square, along Moi Avenue (opposite The Kenya National Archives).

The World Press Photo of the Year 2019 was titled Crying Girl on the boarder by John Moore. Moore’s image shows Honduran toddler, Yanela Sanxhez, crying as she and her mother, Sandra Sanchez, are taken into custody by US boarder officials in McAllen, Texas, USA on the 12th June 2018. After this picture was published worldwide, the US customs and Border protection confirmed that Yanela and her mother had not been among the thousands who had been separated by US officials. Nevertheless, public outcry over the controversial practice resulted in Presidential Donald Trump reversing the policy on 20 June.

“I think that this image touched many people’s hearts as it did mine because it humanized a larger story.” Moore’s

Anthony Ochieng (@TonyWild) is one of the facilitators from PAK who will host a masterclass titled 'Beyond Clicking', where he will talk about photography for social causes and social impact.

To inspire a generation of visual photographic storytelling, during the World Press Photo Photographers Association of Kenya (PAK) in partnership with PAWA 254 and support from The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands have prepared a series of activities. There will be a Photographers meet up at PAWA 254 (Time 2:00pm to 4:00pm) on the 31st August 2019 and series of Master classes from 2nd and 3rd September 2019.

To register for the photographers meet up kindly RSVP to sophie@worldpressphoto.org and master classes using this link https://www.pak.co.ke/wpp2019

Take your time and pass by the Hilton Square, you heart will truly be touched by the images.