Independent photographer Roman Chełmowski won first prize and PLN 15,000 for Photo of the Year in the BZ WBK Press Foto 2008 competition. The winning photo was taken in Radzyń Podlaski and it shows a paralysed Agnieszka Pieniak who suffers from multiple sclerosis and who brings up four children. “This photo does not show a spectacular event. We chose it because it carries a universal message,” says the head of the jury from the Tam-Tam photo agency. “It depicts family emotions, attachment, love. It makes those who see it understand and identify with the characters to a certain extent,” he adds.
This year’s fourth edition of the BZ WBK Press Foto 2008 competition was record-breaking as regards the the number of entries. As many as 330 people submitted more than 6,500 photos. “I believe that these numbers are the result of the digital revolution,” adds Mariusz Forecki. “We have noticed substantial interest in reporting and stories describing human life,” he says. The main objective of the contest is to present the best Polish press photos. Apart from Photo of the Year, the prizes, worth PLN 70,000, were given in the following categories: portrait, nature, society, sport and event. The organizer awarded a special “It is worth being together” (Warto być razem) prize whose main aim is to promote the idea of humanitarianism and help for the poorest social groups.
The laureate gala will be held in the Zachęta gallery on June 23. The best photos will be shown from June to November in Warsaw, Gdynia, Kraków, Zakopane, Lublin, Poznań, Łódź and Wrocław. However, for the first time in the history of this contest, the photos will be displayed in a dozen galleries situated in smaller cultural centres.
Rzeczpospolita
