04/16/2018, This year’s winners of the prestigious photography prize have been announced during the World Press Photo Festival in Amsterdam. The jury selected the image Venezuela Crisis by Ronaldo Schemidt (born 1971) as the winner of the 61st World Press Photo contest.

The image shows 28-year old José Víctor Salazar Balza, who had caught fire from an exploding fuel tank  during protests against the Venezuelan president in Caracas. Salazar survived with first and second degree burns.

Magdalena Herrera, director of photography Geo France and chair of the jury, explained their decision in the following statement: “It’s a classical photo, but has an instantaneous energy and dynamic – the colours, the movement. And it’s very well composed, it has strength. I got an instantaneous emotion.”

The winning works of this year’s competition will be presented at the De Nieuwe Kerk Gallery in Amsterdam until 22 July, before touring to 99 further venues in 44 countries.

For details visit World Press Photo

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  © Ronaldo Schemidt/Agence France Presse