“Photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness”. That quotation by American photojournalist, war photographer and artist [1918 – 1978] highlights some of the forces of reportage photography: its value as a historical document for information and power to change the expressions along with the realities. The Centre for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB) is presenting for the 5th year running the World Press Photo 09, an important event whose main objective is to make us aware of current affairs from around the world. At the same time, there is a parallel event that is not to be missed: FotoPres09 at The Caixa Forum, where you will have more opportunites to reflect on contemporary society and its harsh conflicts.

Being a press photographer today is a way to bring the world closer to everyday people : the credit crisis, conflicts in Georgia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Kenya, immigration issues, social inequality and gender violence.It’s not just conflicts and violence, though ; on a positive side a press photographer can also touch on the humane side of life and bring to the forefront the unusual as well as the poetic. The talent of these professional photojournalists will leave you in awe !.

Highlights of this year shows the dazzling work of Spanish photojournalist Emilio Morenatti which won him the FotoPres 09 first prize. His work along with eight other professional photojournalists will show nine portraits of Pakistani women victims of gender violence: they have been disfigured in an acid attack. Some of these victims have been operated on up to 25 times and some of them dream of regaining their sight or even to have a proper education. The work of Walter Astrada from Argentina won him second prize with the violence in the african land of Kenya, Alfonso Moral – third prize with the conflict in The Lebanon, Mikel Aristregi - alcoholism in Mongolia and Lourdes R. Basoli for the situation in the city of Caracas, Venezuela. These photojournalists have either received scholarships or were awarded for their images whose main objective is to raise awareness about the realities of the world today.

The World Press Photo 09 shows the 200 winning entries in the first annual international competition of press photography with almost 6,000 professional photojournalists submitting their work. The exhibition is going on tour and a hundred or so cities around the world will also have a chance to see this fine exhibition.