World Press Photo opens in Zurich
On Thursday evening, the World Press Photo exhibition opened in the Papiersaal at the Sihlcity shopping center in Zurich. Former Federal Councilor Adolf Ogi spoke at the opening ceremony. Swiss award winner Nicolas Righetti was also in attendance.
The World Press Photo exhibition opened on Thursday evening in the Paper Hall of Zurich's Sihlcity shopping center. It shows the prize-winning photos from the annual competition. The exhibition is being held in Zurich for the first time in ten years and was brought to the city on the Limmat by the Keystone photo agency. Former Federal Councillor Adolf Ogi spoke at the opening event. Nicolas Righetti, a Swiss award winner, was also present. With 280 people, including many editors-in-chief, twice as many people attended the event as expected. Ogi spoke about the unbroken power of images. "Pictures can make a contribution to a better world. They touch the heart," said the UN Special Envoy. But the world has become numb. "There is a covert war going on that has engulfed the whole world. We are observers of the war and the media live from it," Ogi continued. However, the power of images could help to improve the world.
78,083 works by 4,460 photographers from 124 countries were submitted for this year's World Press Photo competition. 60 photographers received a prize. The title "World Press Photo of the Year 2006" went to a picture by the American Spencer Platt. It shows young Lebanese people in a convertible against the backdrop of destroyed Beirut. Many of the exhibited pictures are very touching and illustrate what Ogi meant by the "power of images".
World Press Photo is an independent non-profit organization that was founded in Amsterdam in 1955. Its aim is to support and publicize the work of press photographers internationally. The traveling exhibition with around 200 works can be seen at 85 locations in 40 countries; in Zurich's Sihlcity from September 14 to October 7.
78,083 works by 4,460 photographers from 124 countries were submitted for this year's World Press Photo competition. 60 photographers received a prize. The title "World Press Photo of the Year 2006" went to a picture by the American Spencer Platt. It shows young Lebanese people in a convertible against the backdrop of destroyed Beirut. Many of the exhibited pictures are very touching and illustrate what Ogi meant by the "power of images".
World Press Photo is an independent non-profit organization that was founded in Amsterdam in 1955. Its aim is to support and publicize the work of press photographers internationally. The traveling exhibition with around 200 works can be seen at 85 locations in 40 countries; in Zurich's Sihlcity from September 14 to October 7.
