deadra and me managed to catch the World Press Photo 2009 exhibition in Vienna on its penultimate day. As usual, it’s a great exhibition, but going on the penultimate day is not a good idea, trust me. We weren’t really able to amble through the gallery but were more pushed through (especially since it’s really small), sometimes having to wait for a few minutes until the crowds had cleared enough so you could actually see the photos. After about half an hour of this, you’re contemplating escape and not seeing the rest of the photos. If it takes you much longer than an hour, the thought of jumping out a window become strangely appealing.

It influences the impact of the exhibition.

In any case, after the jump you can find my favourites. If you want more info about each photo or look at the entire collection, you can do so here.

Steve Winter, National Geographic (Nature: 1st prize stories)

Jérôme Bonnet, Corbis Outline for Libération (Portraits: 2nd prize singles)

Howard Schatz, photographing boxers for and after the fight (Sports Features: 2nd prize stories)

Tomasz Gudzowaty, Yours Gallery/Focus Photo und Presse Agentur (Sports Features: 3rd prize singles)

Gleb Garanich, Reuters (Spot News: 3rd prize singles)

Kevin Frayer, The Associated Press (General News: 3rd prize singles)

Yannis Kolesidis, Reuters (People in the News: 2nd prize singles)

Brenda Ann Kenneally, The Raw File (Daily Life: 1st prize stories)

Pep Bonet, Noor for Positive Lives (Portraits: 2nd prize stories)

Carlos F. Gutiérrez, Patagonia Press for La Tercera (Nature: 1st prize singles)

And the overall winner of the year (according to the World Press Photo people) is:

Anthony Suau, for Time