06/08/2009
The world’s premier photojournalism exhibition opens again at the Scottish Parliament for the fourth year running on Friday 7 August, alongside a series of unique events – including one featuring Time magazine photographer Callie Shell talking about her experience following President Obama on the campaign trail.
The World Press Photo (WPP) exhibition is being held at Holyrood as part of the annual Festival of Politics and features the winning photographs from this year’s competition that powerfully documents people, places and situations from across the globe.
In the past three years, it is estimated more than 100,000 visitors have come to see the exhibition at Holyrood. Deputy Presiding Officer Trish Godman MSP said, “We are privileged to welcome back the World Press Photo exhibition for the fourth year at the Festival of Politics. The exhibition is such an exciting and challenging record of our times. We are proud to be one of the two locations in the UK it visits and we know how popular it is with Scots. The photographs graphically show issues that people care about. There is always talk of people not engaging with politics – but this exhibition and its popularity show this is not true. The World Press Photo helps to prompt debate about our society and is to be applauded for this – which is one of the reasons we have extended its stay here to four weeks.”
This year’s winning image selected by the international jury of the 52nd annual World Press Photo Contest is a black-and-white image by American photographer Anthony Suau. The picture shows an armed officer of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department moving through a home in Cleveland, Ohio, following eviction as a result of mortgage foreclosure. Officers have to ensure that the house is clear of weapons, and that the residents have moved out. The winning photograph, taken in March 2008, is part of a story commissioned by Time magazine. The story as a whole won Second Prize in the Daily Life category of the contest.
Jury chair MaryAnne Golon said, "The strength of the picture is in its opposites. It's a double entendre. It looks like a classic conflict photograph, but it is simply the eviction of people from a house following foreclosure. Now war in its classic sense is coming into people's houses because they can't pay their mortgages.
On Tuesday 25 August, World Press Photo 2009 winner and Time magazine photographer Callie Shell will speak about her time following President Obama on the campaign trail and share tricks of the trade when it comes to taking pictures of one of the most important politicians of a generation. Her insider’s guide forms just one of a range of specially-tailored events created for this year’s Festival of Politics in recognition of the international significance of World Press Photo and runs alongside the exhibition from 7 August to 5 September (except Sundays and Friday 28 August).
Other events include a discussion on the current challenges facing photojournalists with renowned Magnum photographer Donovan Wylie, an exclusive guided tour of the winning photographs from exhibition curator Erik de Kruijf and master classes from working photographers.
Background:
World Press Photo receives support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and is sponsored worldwide by Canon and TNT.
The full programme for the World Press Photo @ Festival of Politics is:
World Press Photo Exhibition Tour
Friday 7 August 10.00 (10.45) Main Hall Free*
Join World Press Photo Exhibition Curator Erik de Kruijf as he undertakes a guided tour of the winning photographs that form the 2009 World Press Photo exhibition.
World Press Photo Exhibition Tour
Monday 17 August 14.00 (14.45) Main Hall Free*
A unique opportunity to join Stephen Mayes , Secretary to the World Press Photo judging panel, as he provides an insight into the winning photographs from this year’s competition.
Select Photos
Monday 17 August 17.00 (18.15) Committee Room 1 Free*
At the beginning of each year, a panel of 13 recognised experts in the field of press photography convenes in Amsterdam to select the winning photographs from the tens of thousands of entries for the World Press Photo Exhibition. Join Stephen Mayes, Secretary to the World Press Photo judging panel, as he gives a behind-the-scenes perspective on the judging process and what makes a winning photograph. Chaired by Ted Brocklebank MSP.
Photography Masterclass
Tuesday 25 August 11.00 (13.00) Committee Room 5 Free*
Join a master class open to the public / aspiring photographers where photographers will give a presentation on their work and experiences followed by reviewing any work brought along by participants. Photographers are invited to bring examples of work for discussion and review.
Capturing The President
Tuesday 25 August 17.00 (18.00) Committee Room 1 Free*
World Press Photo 2009 winner and Time magazine photographer Callie Shell provides an insight to the time she has spent cataloguing Barack Obama’s campaign to become President and his first months in the White House. Join her to discover the challenges involved with photographing possibly the most important politician of a generation. Chaired by Dr Tom Normand, author of Scottish Photography: A History.
Photography Masterclass – Architectural Photography
Wednesday 26 August 11.00 (13.00) Committee Room 5 Free*
Renowned photographer Niall Hendrie shares his experiences of photographing the construction of the new Scottish Parliament building. Photographers are invited to bring examples of work for discussion and review.