Canon congratulates World Press Photo of the Year winner
Canon Europe, world-leader in imaging solutions, offers congratulations to Swedish photographer, Paul Hansen, winner of the World Press Photo of the Year 2012. His image, which shows a group of men carrying two children through a street in Gaza City to a mosque for a burial ceremony, was chosen from a total of 103,481 images.
The World Press Photo Contest, universally acknowledged as the world’s most prestigious competition for photojournalists, has been sponsored by Canon since 1992. Now in its 56th year, the competition saw a record 5,666 professional photographers from 124 countries submit their images. The jury, led this year by Santiago Lyon, vice president and director of photography at The Associated Press, awardedprizes in nine themed categories to 54 photographers, with one image being selected as World Press Photo of the Year 2012.
“We’re proud to have been supporting the World Press Photo and amazing photojournalistic talent from around the world for over 20 years,” comments Kieran Magee, Marketing Director, Professional Imaging, Canon Europe. “We are passionate about the power of image and Paul’s winning image is undeniably and strikingly powerful. We warmly congratulate Paul and all this year’s other winners in the competition that sets the standard for photojournalism worldwide.”
The winning image was taken in Gaza city, Palestinian Territories, on 20 November 2012. It was shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III digital SLR camera.
Hansen will receive a cash prize of €10,000 from World Press Photo at an awards ceremony in Amsterdam. In addition, Canon Europe will provide him with a professional DSLR camera and lens kit.
Canon Ambassador Paolo Pellegrin, Magnum Photos, was also honoured by the World Press Photo of the Year jury. He took second place in the General News Stories Category, and will receive a Golden Eye Award and a diploma.
The prize-winning pictures are presented in an exhibition visiting more than 100 cities in over 45 countries. The first 2013 World Press Photo exhibition opens in Amsterdam on 26 April 2013.
Further information about World Press Photo is available at www.worldpressphoto.org.
