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
THEBECKHAMCATCH
By Al Bello, USA. Photo details Credit: Reuters/Al Bello/Gety Images
ORPHANEDRHINO
By Ami Vitale, USA. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Ami Vitale/National Geographic
THEFINALGAME
By Bao Tailiang, China Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Bao Tailiang/Chengdu Economic Daily.
ISTANBULPROTEST
By Bulent Kilic, Turkey. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Bulent Kilic/AFP/.
FAMILYLOVE 1993-2014
By Darcy Padilla, USA. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Bulent Kilic/AFP.
MASSABDUCTION IN NIGERIA
By Glenna Gordon, USA. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Glenna Gordon.
JONANDALEX
By Mads Nissen, Denmark. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Mad Nissen/Politiken/Panos Pictures/Scanpix.
RESCUEOPERATION
By Massimo Sestini, Italy. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Massimo Sestini.
CADETS
By Paolo Verzone, Italy. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Paolo Verzone/Agence Vu
EBOLA IN SIERRALEONE
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.
CHRISTMASFACTORY
By Ronghui Chen, China. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Ronghui Chen/City Express.
KITCHENTABLE
By Sergei Ilnitsky, Russia. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA.
BLUESKYDAYS
By Tomas Van Houtryve, Belgium. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Tomas van Houtryve/VII.
MONKEYTRAININGFOR A CIRCUS
By Yongzhi Chu, China. Photo details. Credit: Reuters/Yongzhi Chu.
