World Press Photo Belfast

The World Press Photo global exhibition tour will come to Belfast for the first time ever in its 57-year existence. Opening at Elmwood Hall, Belfast 18-Nov

For the first time on display in Belfast, World Press Photo aims to inspire understanding of the world through the highest quality in photojournalism.

The 2014 exhibition comprises the 150 winning images chosen from over 98, 000 images submitted by 5, 754 photojournalists in 132 countries. The international jury of the 57th annual World Press Photo Contest has selected an image by American photographer John Stanmeyer of the VII Photo Agency as the World Press Photo of the Year. The picture shows African migrants on the shore of Djibouti city at night, raising their phones in an attempt to capture an inexpensive signal from neighbouring Somalia—a tenuous link to relatives abroad. Djibouti is a common stop-off point for migrants in transit from such countries as Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, seeking a better life in Europe and the Middle East. The picture also won 1st Prize in the Contemporary Issues category, and was shot for National Geographic.

Prizes were awarded in nine themed categories to 53 photographers of 25 nationalities from: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA.