They aim, they shoot, all to tell a great story

SOCIAL media and the likes of Instagram may be the buzzfeeds of the moment, but when it comes to telling a gritty and difficult-to-get story in a compelling way, nothing beats a photojournalist's eye.

And some of the latest, best images by some of the most renowned names are now on display in Singapore, courtesy of an exhibition of winning photos from the 2014 World Press Photo contest.

The 151 winning photos in the annual prestigious competition were whittled down from 98,671 entries submitted by 5,754 photographers of 132 nationalities.

The awards, which started in 1955, are regarded as the highest accolade in the field of photojournalism.

This is the fourth time that winning images are being showcased in Singapore.

The exhibition is presented by The Straits Times. Editor-in-chief of the English, Malay and Tamil media group of parent company Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), Mr Patrick Daniel, says: "This exhibition is a tribute to the photojournalists who work tirelessly and bravely to make us all more aware of what's happening around the world."

Last year, the Singapore leg of the show drew 20,000 visitors. The exhibition also came to our shores in 2002 and 2006.

Photographs on display include spot-news events like the Boston bombing and features on wildlife.

Acclaimed photojournalists John Stanmeyer and Marcus Bleasdale are among the big names.

The year-long roving exhibition, sponsored by Canon, tours more than 100 cities in more than 45 countries.

Canon Singapore's assistant director of consumer business marketing, Mr Edwin Teoh, says: "Photojournalism shapes our view of world events through powerful images that transcend geographical and cultural barriers, deepening our understanding of the world and our connection to other communities.

"Intrepid photojournalists who capture these images often work in tough conditions and go to great lengths to bring us compelling pictures that convey impactful stories."

Mr Teoh adds: "At Canon, we salute these tenacious professionals and strive to provide the best photographic tools in the world that match the exacting requirements of the trade.

"We are proud to be a partner of World Press Photo and congratulate all entrants for their fantastic work and efforts in raising the bar of photojournalism."

Local sponsors of the Singapore staging of the winners' images include Raffles Hotel, Rabobank, KLM/Air France and Famous Air & Sea Services.

Photography buffs can also look forward to talks by award-winning photographers, including Robin Hammond and Julius Schrank (see other stories).

The free exhibition kicks off today at the Raffles Hotel and runs until Feb 1. Go to www.worldpressphoto.asia/outreach/ for details about the talks.

deslim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on January 10, 2015.
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