A Guardian gallery highlights World Press Photo 2026 winners with powerful images illustrating climate crises, conflicts, and humanitarian stories from around the world, previewing the year’s winner and two finalists to be announced on April 23.
ProPublica’s visual reporters Cengiz Yar and Peter DiCampo chronicle the days around Alex Pretti’s death at the hands of CBP in Minneapolis, detailing a federal immigration crackdown, contested official claims, and the ensuing protests, tear gas, and memorials, as experienced by residents and journalists on the ground.
New York Times photographer Finnbarr O'Reilly rushed to the Spain train crash scene, photographed from multiple angles, and found a large bogie fragment outside the cordoned area—a clue that sparked a national media firestorm and raised questions about the investigation; CIAF's preliminary report suggests the rail fracture may have occurred before the derailment.
The UNICEF Photo of the Year Awards 2025 recognized powerful images highlighting children's lives and struggles worldwide, with first prize going to Elise Blanchard for her documentation of girls in Afghanistan, and other notable entries depicting air pollution in Mongolia, childhood in Indian coal mines, and various conflicts and hardships across the globe. An exhibition of the winning and honorable mention photos will be held in Berlin until April 2026.
Lynsey Addario, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist with 25 years of experience covering conflicts worldwide, discusses the challenges of balancing her dangerous profession with family life, the risks involved in war reporting, and her hope and dedication to photojournalism despite the hardships.
The article highlights the resilience and potential of girls worldwide, featuring powerful photographs by Danielle Villasana that depict girls facing challenges such as migration, displacement, and violence, while emphasizing the importance of support, education, and opportunity to empower them, in celebration of the International Day of the Girl.
The article explores the controversy surrounding the authorship of the iconic 'Napalm Girl' photograph taken during the Vietnam War, including recent investigations and allegations that challenge Nick Ut's claim to have taken the photo, raising questions about memory, truth, and journalistic integrity.
Photojournalist Robert Nickelsberg's book "Legacy of Lies" documents the brutal civil war in El Salvador during the early 1980s, highlighting the impact of U.S. foreign policy in the region. Through black-and-white photographs and essays, the book captures the violence fueled by U.S. support for El Salvador's right-wing military government against left-wing guerrillas, resulting in significant civilian casualties and social upheaval. The work provides a visual narrative of the Cold War's influence on Latin America and the enduring consequences of U.S. intervention.
A photograph of a secret birthday party in Kabul captures the quiet resistance of Afghan teenage girls living under Taliban rule. The image, part of a project by photojournalist Kiana Hayeri and researcher Mélissa Cornet, highlights the struggles and resilience of Afghan women as the Taliban restricts their rights. Their work, "No Woman's Land," documents the complex realities faced by women across Afghanistan, showcasing both the oppression and the small acts of defiance that persist, such as celebrating birthdays and sharing uncovered images on social media.
New York Times photojournalist Doug Mills captured a "one in a million" image of a bullet whizzing by Donald Trump's head during an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. Mills, using a high-speed camera, didn't realize he had taken the historic photo until an editor spotted the bullet's path. Trump was grazed in the ear, and three others were hit, including a volunteer firefighter who was killed. The sniper, Matthew Thomas Crooks, was shot dead by law enforcement.
The film "Civil War" by Alex Garland follows a group of journalists on a road trip to interview a fascist president in a politically chaotic America. The movie focuses on the evolving relationship between two photographers, Lee and Jessie, as they navigate the ethical challenges of their profession in a war-torn environment. The film's final image, captured by Jessie, depicts the extrajudicial killing of the president by insurgent soldiers, serving as a condemnation of bloodlust and the impact of war on journalists. However, the film's portrayal of journalistic objectivity and its political message are criticized for being vague and lacking context, leaving the audience with a sense of futility and an underexposed perspective.
In the new action movie "Civil War" directed by Alex Garland, the focus is on photojournalists capturing the horrors of conflict, with Kirsten Dunst playing a seasoned photojournalist. The film's action scenes are unsettling in their simplicity, using realistic sound effects and visuals to convey the starkness of violence. Critics are divided on the film's politics, with some finding it opaque, but Garland sees it as requiring viewer participation. Kirsten Dunst emphasizes the film's open-ended nature, leaving interpretation up to the audience. "Civil War" is now in theaters.
The work and legacy of acclaimed German photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus, known for her powerful images covering conflict in the Middle East and Afghanistan, endure 10 years after her tragic death. Her Pulitzer Prize-winning work is being honored with a new book and exhibition at the Bronx Documentary Center, showcasing her ability to capture both the beauty and tragedy of daily life in war-torn regions. Niedringhaus' images continue to resonate today, reflecting her dedication to reporting people's courage with her camera and heart.
Ten years after her tragic death, the powerful and compassionate work of acclaimed photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus continues to speak for her, capturing moments of joy, struggle, and humanity in some of the world's most challenging places. Known for her impactful images from conflict zones and sports events, Niedringhaus' legacy lives on through her photographs, which reflect her irrepressible decency and ability to find beauty and joy even in difficult circumstances. Her work continues to inspire and resonate with audiences, showcasing her remarkable talent and unwavering dedication to storytelling through photography.
Photojournalists captured diverse Easter celebrations around the world, from Pope Francis leading mass at the Vatican to worshippers gathering at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The photos also showcased Easter vigils and processions in places like India, Montenegro, Gaza City, New York, Brazil, and more, highlighting the global and cultural significance of the holiday.