Reviewed by John Daly-Peoples
World Press Photo Contest
Presented by Rotary Club of Auckland
131 Queen St Auckland
Until 24 August,
Reviewed by John Daly-Peoples
The World Press Photo Contest is one of the most important photographic exhibitions and has been held every year since 1955.
While the focus is on the major political, social development and changes around the world it also presents aspects of sports and culture along with the drama and humour of everyday life.
The 2025 exhibition has six worldwide regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, North & Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia & Oceania and four categories (Single, Story, Long Term Project and Open Format). The winning entries from the six regions in each category form this exhibition with four global winners chosen.
The exhibition highlights significant global events and issues through powerful photojournalism and documentary photography. This year’s exhibition, presents a diverse range of subjects, including the human cost of conflict, the impact of climate change (like the Amazon droughts), political events, and stories of human resilience and cultural identity.
The exhibition rarely shows New Zealand work but this year the Belarusian, New Zealand based photographer Tatsiana Chypsanava is included with her award-winning group of photographs titled “Te Urewera The living ancestor of the Tuhoe people” which includes is an image of Tama Iti.
The top honour for 2025 was awarded to Samar Abu Elouf’s haunting image of nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, who lost both arms in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.
The exhibition includes a special display marking 70 years of World Press Photo, offering a look back at the evolution of photojournalism and its impact.
Donald Trump is the focus of a work by Jabin Botsford showing members of the US Secret Service helping Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump off stage moments after a bullet hit his ear during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Grounds, Pennsylvania
Mosab Abushama’s image of a groom at his wedding in Omdurman, Sudan, where weddings are traditionally announced with celebratory gunfire. He asked a friend to document his wedding on his cellphone in a city constantly targeted by airstrikes.
Gaby Oráa photograph shows Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado as she greets supporters during a campaign rally in 2024. She was barred from running and as a result, she endorsed the former ambassador as the opposition’s candidate and led his political campaign across the country.
Brazil’s Gabriel Medina was captured by Jérôme Brouillet as he bursts out triumphantly from a large wave in the fifth heat of round three of men’s surfing, during the Olympic surfing at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia in 2024.
The exhibition is brought to Auckland by the Rotary Club of Auckland as a fundraiser for charity. This year the profits will go to Rotary youth programmes, interact and Rotaract, and PHAB an inclusive organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities.
New Zealand Arts Review 