Paul Hansen’s dramatic news image named World Press Photo of the Year

Swedish photographer Paul Hansen's dramatic image of a Palestinian funeral possession was named World Press Photo of the Year for 2012. The photo, shown below, was captured in Gaza City last November shortly after an Israeli missile hit the area.

 

World Press Photo of the Year: Gaza Burial by Paul Hansen

Here's how the World Press Photo organization described the shot in a news release: "The picture shows a group of men carrying the bodies of two dead children through a street in Gaza City. They are being taken to a mosque for the burial ceremony while their father’s body is carried behind on a stretcher. Two-year-old Suhaib Hijazi and his older brother Muhammad were killed when their house was destroyed by an Israeli missile strike. Their mother was put in intensive care."

Hansen shot the photo for the Swedish daily newspaper, Dagens Nyheter.

In total, 52 photographers from 32 nations were awarded prizes in the 56th annual contest. Below is a sample of some of the other winners for 2012 in the World Press Photo awards. See a gallery of all of the winners here. To find out more about the contest, click here.

 

Sports Action, First Prize (Singles): Joy at the End of the Run by Wei Seng Chen

 

General News, First Prize (Stories): Syria Under Seige by Alessio Romenzi

 

Daily Life, First Prize (Singles): Football in Guinea-Bissau by Daniel Rodrigues

 

First Prize, Staged Portraits (Stories): People of Mercy by Stephan Vanfleteren

 

Nature, First Prize (Stories): Emperor Penguins by Paul Nicklen