ADVERTISEMENTDanish photographer Mads Nissen’s image of a gay couple sharing an intimate moment in Russia has won a prestigious contest.
Judges of World Press Photo 2014 said they were swayed by the power and message the image sent.
Human Rights Watch said in December that Russia had failed to stop an increase in homophobic attacks, a hike it blamed on a 2013 law which banned people providing information on homosexuality to those under 18.
Nissen, who works for Danish newspaper Politiken, triumphed in a contest that attracted 97,912 images.
The prize-winning pictures – which you can browse in our special gallery below – will be part of a exhibition that will visit 100 cities in 45 countries. The first showcase opens in De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam, on April 18.
World Press Photo, based in the Netherlands, was founded in 1955 to support and advance high standards of photojournalism.
World Press Photo 2014 – a selection of the winning entries
- THE BECKHAM CATCH
By Al Bello, USA. Photo details Credit: Reuters/Al Bello/Gety Images
- ORPHANED RHINO
By Ami Vitale, USA. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Ami Vitale/National Geographic
- THE FINAL GAME
By Bao Tailiang, China Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Bao Tailiang/Chengdu Economic Daily.
- ISTANBUL PROTEST
By Bulent Kilic, Turkey. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Bulent Kilic/AFP/.
- FAMILY LOVE 1993-2014
By Darcy Padilla, USA. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Bulent Kilic/AFP.
- MASS ABDUCTION IN NIGERIA
By Glenna Gordon, USA. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Glenna Gordon.
ADVERTISEMENT- JON AND ALEX
By Mads Nissen, Denmark. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Mad Nissen/Politiken/Panos Pictures/Scanpix.
- RESCUE OPERATION
By Massimo Sestini, Italy. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Massimo Sestini.
- CADETS
By Paolo Verzone, Italy. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Paolo Verzone/Agence Vu
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- EBOLA IN SIERRA LEONE
By Pete Muller, USA. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Pete Muller/Prime/National Geographic/The Washington Post/.
- LAURINDA
By Raphaela Rosella, Australia. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Raphaela Rosella/Oculi.
ADVERTISEMENT- CHRISTMAS FACTORY
By Ronghui Chen, China. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Ronghui Chen/City Express.
- KITCHEN TABLE
By Sergei Ilnitsky, Russia. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA.
- BLUE SKY DAYS
By Tomas Van Houtryve, Belgium. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Tomas van Houtryve/VII.
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- MONKEY TRAINING FOR A CIRCUS
By Yongzhi Chu, China. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Yongzhi Chu.
