The recent World Press Photo Awards highlighted a diverse range of photo essays that capture the complexities and challenges of our contemporary world. Among the winners, the essay titled “The Two Walls” stands out, highlighting the resilience of migrants at Mexico’s borders. Photographed by the talented Venezuelan Alejandro Cegarra for The New York Times and Bloomberg, the shoot received the coveted Long-Term Project Award, indicating the photographer's long-term commitment to the project, which began in 2018.

The World Press Photo jury highlighted the importance of Cegarra’s work, noting that his own experience as a Venezuelan immigrant brought a sensitive and human perspective to the project. They emphasized that the essay not only documents the difficult reality of migrants at Mexico’s borders, but also focuses on their agency and resilience in the face of adversity, according to Latin Times.

In addition to Cegarra’s essay, other projects were recognized by the jury for their excellence and impact. The Photo of the Year award was awarded to Mohammed Salem of Reuters for the powerful image depicting a Palestinian woman mourning the loss of her niece in an attack in Gaza. Other highlights include the work of Lee-Ann Olwage, who received the Photo Story of the Year award for her sensitive approach to dementia in Madagascar, and Julia Kochetova, who was awarded the Open Format Award for her innovative project that combines photojournalism and personal documentary style to chronicle the everyday realities of the war in Ukraine.

In its overall assessment, the jury recognized that the award-winning works form a tapestry representative of our contemporary world, conveying not only specific stories but also universal values of respect and integrity. These images, according to the jury, have the power to resonate beyond their origins, reaching a global audience and provoking deep reflections on the human issues they capture.