Yasuyoshi Chiba, Nicolas Asfouri, Sean Davey, Oli Scarff
AFP photographers have once again won prizes at this year's World Press Photo, the world's most prestigious photography competition, including the coveted "Photo of the Year." Here they are in their own words:
Yasuyoshi Chiba
Photo of the Year
People chant slogans as a young man recites a poem, illuminated by mobile phones, before the opposition's direct dialog with people in Khartoum on June 19, 2019. (AFP / Yasuyoshi Chiba)
One of the reasons I like being a photographer is because I can go to new places.
When I applied for my visa to go to Sudan, I was very excited -- not only would it be my first time in the country, but it was at the time in the news, with thousands of protesters holding a peaceful sit-in.
The unrest started after the government tripled the price of bread. The army overthrew the longtime president, but the protesters kept holding a sit-in at the entrance of the army headquarters, demanding civilian rule. Then an unknown military group dispersed them. Doctors linked to the protest movement said at least 128 people died in the violence; while the authorities gave a death toll of at least 87 and denied ordering the dispersal.
I arrived in Khartoum about two weeks later. The protesters had disappeared from the streets, but the security forces were everywhere. The internet had been shut off and people were not able to share information through social networks.
One night, my colleagues and I went to a residential area where opposition leaders were supposed to meet with supporters for a briefing.
The place was in a total blackout. As organizers prepared generators, youth collected rocks to barricade the streets leading to the site.
Then all of a sudden people started clapping their hands in the dark. They held up their mobile phones to illuminate a young man in the center.
He was reciting something, as people around him shouted “thawra.” Later a colleague told me that the young man was reciting a famous poem and that the others were shouting “revolution.”
Though I could not understand him at the time, his facial expression and voice impressed me. I could not stop focusing on him to capture the moment. I didn’t name him, as I was a bit nervous about the protesters’ security.
During my stay, I felt like there was always someone watching me. I was also watched over -- people were always inviting me in for tea, coffee, a bottle of water.
We face a lot of uncertain obstacles, especially working in Africa, but, on the other hand, we encounter unexpected generous moments that compensate for all the difficulties.
Sometimes when I work, I feel like I am recording history. I can only hope that each image can be a message for a better future.
I like being a photographer since all of my experiences in different parts of the world come together to create a new perception. And this is what motivates me to keep going.
Yasuyoshi Chiba
Photo of the Year
People chant slogans as a young man recites a poem, illuminated by mobile phones, before the opposition's direct dialog with people in Khartoum on June 19, 2019. (AFP / Yasuyoshi Chiba)
One of the reasons I like being a photographer is because I can go to new places.
When I applied for my visa to go to Sudan, I was very excited -- not only would it be my first time in the country, but it was at the time in the news, with thousands of protesters holding a peaceful sit-in.
The unrest started after the government tripled the price of bread. The army overthrew the longtime president, but the protesters kept holding a sit-in at the entrance of the army headquarters, demanding civilian rule. Then an unknown military group dispersed them. Doctors linked to the protest movement said at least 128 people died in the violence; while the authorities gave a death toll of at least 87 and denied ordering the dispersal.
I arrived in Khartoum about two weeks later. The protesters had disappeared from the streets, but the security forces were everywhere. The internet had been shut off and people were not able to share information through social networks.
One night, my colleagues and I went to a residential area where opposition leaders were supposed to meet with supporters for a briefing.
The place was in a total blackout. As organizers prepared generators, youth collected rocks to barricade the streets leading to the site.
Then all of a sudden people started clapping their hands in the dark. They held up their mobile phones to illuminate a young man in the center.
He was reciting something, as people around him shouted “thawra.” Later a colleague told me that the young man was reciting a famous poem and that the others were shouting “revolution.”
Though I could not understand him at the time, his facial expression and voice impressed me. I could not stop focusing on him to capture the moment. I didn’t name him, as I was a bit nervous about the protesters’ security.
During my stay, I felt like there was always someone watching me. I was also watched over -- people were always inviting me in for tea, coffee, a bottle of water.
We face a lot of uncertain obstacles, especially working in Africa, but, on the other hand, we encounter unexpected generous moments that compensate for all the difficulties.
Sometimes when I work, I feel like I am recording history. I can only hope that each image can be a message for a better future.
I like being a photographer since all of my experiences in different parts of the world come together to create a new perception. And this is what motivates me to keep going.
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