The World Press Photo Exhibition Opens in Mexico City
The highly anticipated World Press Photo exhibition opened to the public on Wednesday at the Franz Mayer Museum. This year’s selection of 144 images, sourced from six regions worldwide, includes the Foto del Año winner, a Palestinian woman achieving this milestone for the first time.
Key Themes in This Year’s Selection
The selected works capture various themes, including forced displacement due to armed conflicts or climate factors and stricter migration policies. The exhibition also portrays the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Lebanon, the impact of bombings, and the struggles faced by those affected. Additionally, it highlights the severe drought in the Amazon River, one of the world’s most vital waterways, as well as battles for gender identity.
Notable Photographers and Their Work
Among the 144 selected photographers are Musuk Nolte, a Mexican-born photographer and editor residing in Peru. His work depicts a young individual on barren land, with the Amazon rainforest visible in the background. The image underscores the severe drought experienced by the Amazon during the dry season of 2024.
Conflict, Displacement, and More Conflict
Babette Warendorf, Director of Exhibitions at World Press Photo, highlighted the interconnected nature of global conflicts during the exhibition’s preview. She noted that many issues addressed by photojournalists stem from overlapping phenomena, such as climate refugees and migration conflicts. Furthermore, she emphasized that this year’s award-winning images present the world through the perspective of young people, including protests in Kenya and the experiences of a transgender youth in the Netherlands, an injured child in Palestine, and a traumatized Ukrainian woman affected by war.
Foto del Año Winner: Samar Abu Elouf
This year’s Foto del Año was awarded to Palestinian photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf for her powerful portrait of Mahmoud Ajjour, a nine-year-old Palestinian boy severely injured during an Israeli attack on Gaza in March 2024. The explosion left Mahmoud with both arms mutilated, and he now resides in Qatar, learning to navigate using his feet while awaiting prosthetic limbs.
Abu Elouf’s work sheds light on the plight of Palestinians displaced from Gaza requiring medical treatment. The jury recognized her image as representative of conflict victims worldwide, as children are often the most vulnerable.
With this achievement, Abu Elouf becomes the sixth woman to win the top prize since the contest’s inception 70 years ago and the first Palestinian woman to receive this prestigious recognition from one of the world’s most esteemed photography competitions.
Warendorf also addressed the deteriorating state of press freedom globally, noting that Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists to work in.
The Future of Photography and AI
During the conference, Warendorf explained that World Press Photo prohibits the use of AI-generated images, including both retouching and fully created images by AI tools. The organization employs strict forensic protocols to verify image authenticity, requesting RAW files and original photo metadata for examination at a pixel level.
Warendorf acknowledged the increasing difficulty in distinguishing real from manipulated images due to technological advancements. She emphasized the contest’s commitment to maintaining image integrity, working closely with camera manufacturers and other photo agencies to stay ahead of potential AI-driven threats.
World Press Photo 2025 Details
- Museo Franz Mayer, Av. Hidalgo 45, Centro Histórico
- July 30 – October 12
- 144 photographs selected from six regions
- 42 regional winners, with individual and long-term work awards
- Foto del Año and two finalists chosen from the regional winners
Submission Statistics:
- Approximately 60,000 photographs
- From nearly 4,000 photojournalists in 141 countries
