It’s been weeks since I’ve said anything treacherous or embittered and laid out my jealous mind for all to see. That’s over now. The results of the World Press Photo Awards have given me cause to speak. Having closely followed press photography over the past year, I’m indignant. I cried over the results. Given that the jury is comprised of professionals from different countries, it’s reasonable for us to believe, to hope, that every year would have a different selection criteria, and that the winning choice would surprise us.
But no. Once again, aesthetic, historical and moral rhetoric won the day. It’s not that Paul Hansen’s photograph is unworthy, far from it, but when you read the comments by the jury… For photography professionals it’s always the same old song. Apparently these people don’t have the same courage as the photographers whose work they judge (I realize that there are photographers on the jury, but ‘When in Rome…’). And all the newspapers are the same. Photoshop: a little bit of truth and a lot of lies, the photo as proof of reality. I love photographers and the work they do, not the people who talk about it. What am I to do?
Michel Philippot
