2025 World Press Photo Contest has a winner

The World Press Photo Contest has long been a beacon for showcasing some of the most striking and impactful visual storytelling in photojournalism. This year’s winners, announced on April 17, 2025, continue this vital tradition, shedding light on pivotal global issues through exceptional images. The prestigious 2025 World Press Photo of the Year award has been granted to Samar Abu Elouf, a Palestinian photographer based in Doha, for her deeply moving portrait of resilience in the aftermath of conflict. Two other finalists were also selected, highlighting critical topics of migration and climate change. Together, these images offer both a window into the complexities of the modern world and a call to action. The Photo of the Year: Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine The winning photograph by Samar Abu Elouf, taken for The New York Times, captures a quiet yet deeply evocative moment in the life of Mahmoud Ajjour, a nine-year-old boy recovering from devastating injuries sustained during an Israeli attack on Gaza in 2024. The image depicts Mahmoud facing a window, a soft light warming one side of his face. At first, one might notice the innocence in his expression, but the full weight of the photo is revealed as it becomes clear he has lost both arms. The scene is haunting in its juxtaposition of his tender age and the irreversible scars of war. Mahmoud’s story is one of both unimaginable loss and remarkable strength. During an attack in Gaza City, an explosion claimed one of his arms and mutilated the other as he tried… Read More