Nature Story – First place. Emperor Penguins are capable of diving at 600 meters deep for up to 20 minutes. They survive in surface temperatures of minus 100C and the coldest water temperatures in the world.
(Photo: Paul Nicklen/National Geographic)

The results of this year’s World Press Photo contest have just been announced, and as always there is no shortage of photos bursting with violence. There are some, albeit not that many, examples of beautiful and thought provoking photos too.

It seems the competition’s jurors weren’t won over by the arguments of Radu Sigheti regarding violence in photo contests, even though the change in guidelines for Syria photos at the Sunday Times follows a similar line of thinking.

As usual many news websites (Index, HVG, Origo) here have published selections from the winning photos which of course can also be seen at the World Press Photo website too.

Sports Action Single – A swimmer soars above the water in the synchronized swimming competition.
(Photo: Wei Zheng)

Spot News single

1. Paul Hansen, Sweden, Dagens Nyheter
2. Emin Özmen, Turkey
3. Adel Hana, Palestinian Territories, The Associated Press

Spot News story

1. Bernat Armangue, Spain, The Associated Press
2. Fabio Bucciarelli, Italy, Agence France-Press
3. Javier Manzano, USA, Agence France-Presse / Getty Images

General News single

1. Rodrigo Abd, Argentina, The Associated Press
2. Sebastiano Tomado, USA, Sipa Press USA
3. Dominic Nahr, Switzerland, Magnum Photos for Time magazine

• Honorable mention: Ammar Awadn, Jordan, Reuters

General News story

1. Alessio Romenzi, Italy, for Time magazine
2. Paolo Pellegrin, Italy, Magnum Photos for Zeit Magazin
3. Daniel Berehulak, Australia, Getty Images

Sports Action single

1. Wei Seng Chen, Malaysia
2. Yongzhi Chu, China
3. Wei Zheng, China

Sports Action story

1. Roman Vondrous, Czech Republic, Czech Press Agency
2. Sergei Ilnitsky, Russia, European Pressphoto Agency
3. Chris McGrath, Australia, Getty Images

Sports Feature story

1. Jan Grarup, Denmark, Laif
2. Denis Rouvre, France
3. Vittore Buzzi, Italy

Contemporary Issues single

1. Micah Albert, USA, Redux Images
2. Esteban Felix, Peru, The Associated Press
3. Emilio Morenatti, Spain, The Associated Press

• Honorable Mention: Felipe Danan, Brazil, The Associated Press

Contemporary Issues story

1. Maika Elan, Vietnam, Most
2. Majid Saeedi, Iran, Getty Images
3. Aaron Huey, USA, for National Geographic magazine

• Honorable Mention: Altaf Qadri, India, The Associated Press

Daily Life story

1. Daniel Rodrigues, Portugal
2. Søren Bidstrup, Denmark, Berlingske
3. Jacob Ehrbahn, Denmark, for Politiken

Daily Life story

1. Fausto Podavini, Italy
2. Paolo Patrizi, Italy
3. Tomás Munita, Chile, for The New York Times

• Honorable Mention Frederik Buyckx, Belgium, for De Standaard

Observed Portraits sinle

1. Nemanja Pancic, Serbia, Kurir
2. Marie Hald, Denmark
3. Ilona Szwarc, Poland, Redux Pictures

Observed Portraits sotry

1. Ebrahim Noroozi, Iran
2. Daniel Ochoa de Olza, Spain, The Associated Press
3. Ananda van der Pluijm, The Netherlands

Staged Portraits single

1. Nadav Kander, UK, for The New York Times / Time magazine
2. Stefen Chow, Malaysia, for Smithsonian magazine
3. Anna Bedyńska, Poland, Agora

Staged Portraits story

1. Stephan Vanfleteren, Belgium, Panos for Mercy Ships/De Standaard
2. Ebrahim Noroozi, Iran
3. Fu Yongyun, China, City Express

Nature story

1. Paul Nicklen, Canada, for National Geographic magazine
2. Xiaoqun Zheng, China, Wenzhou Daily
3. Thomas P. Peshak, Germany/South Africa