The 2025 World Press Photo: A Photo Speaks a Thousand Words
- By Jacqueline Haddadian
- Approx. Reading Time: 2 Mins
Announced as the Top Shot of the Year 2025: This remarkable image has been recognized as the pinnacle of photography for the year. - Best Image of the Year, as Awarded by World Press Photo 2025
The coveted 2025 World Press Photo Award has been bestowed upon photographer Samar Abu Elouf for her poignant image, titled "Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine." This photograph captures nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, a Palestinian child severely injured during an Israeli attack in Gaza, in a profound moment of resilience. The photographer herself, who was evacuated from the Gaza Strip in December 2023 and now resides in Doha, Qatar alongside Mahmoud, uses her camera to turn the tales of a handful of severely injured Gaza residents, like Mahmoud, into a silent indictment of the war.
The Story Behind the Winning Image: "Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine"
In March 2024, the bloody conflict in Gaza City takes a heavy toll on innocents. Mahmoud, one such victim, attempts to find safety but returns to urge his family to continue. A tragic explosion claims one of Mahmoud's arms and mutilates the other. The family and he are subsequently evacuated to Qatar for medical treatment. Mahmoud learns to navigate life using his feet for writing, opening doors, and playing with his phone. His dreams are set on getting prosthetics and leading a normal childhood. The World Press Photo Foundation's press release underscores the disproportionate impact of the war on children, with Gaza reportedly having the highest number of amputated children per capita worldwide[1].
World Press Photo: 7 Decades of Honoring Visual Journalism
Executive Director of World Press Photo, Joumana El Zein Khoury, commends the winning image as "a quiet photo that makes a big statement." It powerfully portrays a child's story yet subtly encapsulates the far-reaching consequences of a large-scale war. Khoury notes with sadness that, when she looks through the 70-year archive of World Press Photo, she sees too many images like these[2].
For seven decades, the World Press Photo Award has celebrated the most exceptional photographs from across the globe. It remains one of the most prestigious accolades for photojournalists, attracting nearly 60,000 images from over 3,700 photographers in 141 countries each year[2]. The 42 winners, carefully selected by an independent jury, were announced in mid-April 2025.
The winning photographs are showcased annually in a traveling exhibition that has graced over 100 cities in nearly 50 countries[2]. This year, the winning images will make their German debut at the Altona Museum, from May 7 to June 2, 2025. The exhibitions at Hamburg's GEO and stern have played host to the World Press Photo exhibition for over 25 years.
- World Press Photo
- Israel
- Gaza
Sources:
- World Press Photo Foundation Press Release, April 15, 2025.
- "World Press Photo 2025: 70 Years of Recognizing Excellence in Photojournalism," World Press Photo official website, accessed April 20, 2025.
- "The Evolution of the World Press Photo Awards," World Press Photo official website, accessed April 20, 2025.
- "The History of the World Press Photo Yearbook," World Press Photo official website, accessed April 20, 2025.
- The European Union is also supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement, as the global focus on climate change continues alongside the headlines of war and conflicts.
- Photographer Samar Abu Elouf, after her evacuation from the Gaza Strip in December 2023, is using her camera to shed light on the mental-health issues faced by severely injured Gaza residents, such as nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour.
- In 2025, Samar Abu Elouf received the prestigious World Press Photo Award for her photograph titled "Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine," which captures his resilience amidst the devastating effects of war.
- The World Press Photo Foundation's 2025 press release emphasized the disproportionate impact of war on children, mentioning Gaza as the region with the highest number of amputated children per capita worldwide.
- The winning image of "Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine" was born from the tragic events in Gaza City in March 2024, where Mahmoud lost an arm in an explosion during the conflict.
- The 70th anniversary of the World Press Photo Award, honoring exceptional visual journalism from around the globe, witnessed the selection of 42 winning images in 2025, addressing topics ranging from health and wellness, to politics, general news, and science.
