A celebration of photography

The World Press Photo competition, which has just announced its 2010 winners, never fails to remind me of the power that is vested in still frames. Year after year, the jury filters its official selection from thousands of entries and amazes the world with a concentrated display of poignant and versatile photography. I remember, as a student a few years ago, walking around the WPP exhibition in Poznań and admiring its richness in awe. Oddly, it wasn't photos from exotic or unusual destinations that struck me most, but landscapes and portraits of American interior, a bit reminiscent of Ed Hopper's paintings. In this year's edition, as rich as ever, my admiration goes out to Eugene Richard's black-and-white photos of returning American soldiers called War is personal and Kitra Cahana's photostory on modern-day hippies. WPP archives online lend a glimpse into more photographic wonders.