Rome: World Press Photo From The 8th To The 28th Of May 2009

World Press Photo is a non-profit organization created in Amsterdam in 1955, and it is meant to promote high-level photojournalism and contribute to the free exchange of information. The famous, homonymous photo contest is one of the main activities organised by the association, and for over 50 years it has awarded prizes to the best photos realised by press photographers from all over the world. Nowadays it is considered as the largest and most prestigious press photography contest in the world, an evidence of this being given by the numbers of the contest, which in this edition has reached record levels: 5,508 professional photographers coming from 124 different countries have presented their works (96,000 images). Moreover a great number of Asian photographers (Chinese and Indians in particular) have taken part in this year’s edition, 14% more than the previous edition. All photos have been divided into 10 categories (Spot News, General News, People in the News, Sports Action, Sports Features, Contemporary Issues, Daily Life, Portraits, Arts and Entertainment, Nature) and have undergone the evaluation of an international jury, which has awarded prizes to 62 photographers coming from 27 different counties, confirming that images, more than any other means of communication, can go beyond geographical, cultural and language boundaries.


The photos that are awarded a prize are always published in a book and displayed all over the world: also this year the World Press Photo exhibition, after being held in Amsterdam, will be set up in many other cities, like Rome: book now a hotel in Rome and find the time to watch some of the best and most representative photos of 2008, images that have been describing the most meaningful events of the year. The visitors who are planning a trip to Rome will have the possibility to admire the image that has been awarded the first prize: the picture, which was took by American Anthony Suau, is a black and white image featuring an officer in an apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. The man holds a gun and walks in a chaotic room, as if it was a war image. In fact the officer is simply checking that the people who have been turned out of their home have left the apartment, but the fact that the image reminds us of war is very meaningful, and the photo has been awarded because it is a sort of symbol of the world crisis, which brings war into the houses of those who cannot pay their debts. Also in this edition, then, the jury has awarded the main prize to a photographer who uses his ability to portray important contemporary issues.

Spend some days in the eternal city (you can stay in a campsite in Rome), and watch the photos taken by Italian photographers. Many Italian photographers have been awarded this year: Giulio Di Sturco, Davide Monteleone, Paolo Verzone, Massimo Siragusa, Mattia Insolera, Carlo Gianferro.

Tickets: 5,50 euro, reduced 4,00
Date: 8 – 28 May 2009
Location: Museo di Roma in Trastevere, Rome, Italy

By: Michele De Capitani

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This article was written by Francesca Tessarollo with support from Cheap Hostels in Rome. For any information, please visit Travel in Rome or for travel information have a look to Holiday apartments in Rome.