World Press Photo, an independent, nonprofit organization that supports photojournalism, has once again honored the best photographers from around the globe. Here is a selection of the winning images from 2012, which were announced on February 15. More than 100,000 photographs were submitted for consideration. (19 PHOTOS)
Winners Of 56th World Press Photo Contest
1
Paul Hansen of Sweden, a photographer working for the Swedish daily "Dagens Nyheter," won the World Press Photo of the Year 2012 with this picture of a group of men carrying the bodies of two dead children through a street in Gaza City. "The strength of the picture lies in the way it contrasts the anger and sorrow of the adults with the innocence of the children. It's a picture I will not forget," jury member Mayu Mohanna said.
2
Majid Saeedi of Iran won second prize in the Contemporary Issues Stories category with his series "Life In War." This picture shows Zahra, 20, from the Afghan city of Herat, who set fire to herself four years ago. Conservative Islamic laws and tribal traditions frequently dictate what women are allowed to do. Forced marriages, domestic violence, poverty, and lack of access to education are among the main reasons self-immolations take place.
3
Fausto Podavini of Italy won first prize in the Daily Life Stories category with the series "Mirella." This picture shows Mirella taking care of her husband, Luigi, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, in Rome.
4
Paul Nicklen of Canada, a photographer working for "National Geographic" magazine, won first prize in the Nature Stories category with his series "Emperor Penguins." This picture shows a group of emperor penguins swimming in the Ross Sea off Antarctica.
5
Micah Albert of the United States, a photographer working for Redux Images, won first prize in the Contemporary Issues Single category with this picture of a woman pausing in the rain as she works as a trash picker at a 30-acre dump in Nairobi, Kenya.
6
Sergei Ilnitsky of Russia, a photographer working for the European Pressphoto Agency, won second prize in the Sports Action Stories category with the series "The Golden Touch -- Fencing at the Olympics." This picture shows Alaaeldin Abouelkassem of Egypt (top) in action against Peter Joppich of Germany during their Men's Foil Individual round 16 bout at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
7
Maika Elan of Vietnam, a photographer working for Management of Story Tellers (MoST), won first prize in the Contemporary Issues Stories category with the series "The Pink Choice, Vietnam." This picture shows Phan Thi Thuy Vy and Dang Thi Bich Bay, who have been together for one year, watching television after a day of studying at school in Da Nang.
8
Ananda van der Pluijm of Netherlands won third prize in the People -- Observed Portraits Stories category with the series "Martin." After living with his father for 10 years and staying in a youth shelter, Martin, 18, returned home two years ago to live with his mother. He arrived with a bag of clothes and no work or degree. Picture taken in Tilburg.
9
Ilona Szwarc of Poland, a photographer working for Redux Images, won third prize in the People -- Observed Portraits Single category with this picture of Kayla posing with her lookalike doll in front of a portrait of her ancestors in Boston, Massachusetts.
10
Christian Ziegler of Germany won first prize in the Nature Single category with this picture of an endangered southern cassowary feeding on the fruit of a blue quandang tree in Black Mountain Road, Australia.
11
Rodrigo Abd of Argentina, a photographer working for the Associated Press, won first prize in the General News Single category with this picture of Aida crying as she recovers from severe injuries she received when her house was shelled by the Syrian Army in Idib, Syria.
12
Fabio Bucciarelli of Italy, a photographer working for the Agence France-Presse, won second prize in the Spot News Stories category with the series "Battle to Death." The picture shows a Free Syrian Army fighter taking up a position during clashes with government forces in the Sulemain Halabi district in Aleppo.
13
Stephan Vanfleteren of Belgium, a Panos photographer working for Mercy Ships/De Standaard, won first prize in the People -- Staged Portraits Stories category with the series "People of Mercy, Guinea." This picture shows Makone Soumaoro, 30, who has a goiter, in Conakry.
14
Daniel Berehulak of Australia, a photographer working for Getty Images, won third prize in the General News Stories category with the series "Japan After the Wave." This picture shows pine trees uprooted during the tsunami lying strewn over the beach in Rikuzentakata.
15
Emin Ozmen of Turkey won second prize in the Spot News Single category with this picture of Syrian opposition fighters interrogating and torturing an informant in Aleppo.
16
Chen Wei Seng of Malaysia won first prize in the Sports Action Single category with this picture of a jockey showing relief and joy at the end of a dangerous run across rice fields during the Pacu Jawi bull race in Batu Sangkar, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
17
Jan Grarup of Denmark, a photographer working for the Laif Agency, won first prize in the Sports Features Stories category with the series "Women's Basketball, Mogadishu, Somalia." This picture shows an armed guard, paid by the Somali basketball association, watching over and protecting a women's basketball team as they play in Mogadishu.
18
Soren Bidstrup of Denmark, a photographer working for Berlingske, won second prize in the Daily Life Single category with this picture of a summer holiday camping trip in Jeselo, Italy.
19
Stefen Chow of Malaysia, a photographer working for "Smithsonian" magazine, won second prize in the People -- Staged Portraits Single category with this picture of Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei in Beijing.