World Press Photo, an independent, nonprofit organization that supports photojournalism, has once again honored the best photographers from around the globe. Here is a selection of the winning images from 2011. More than 100,000 photographs were submitted for consideration.
The Best Press Photos From 2011
1
Samuel Aranda of Spain took the top award of the World Press Photo for 2011 with this picture of a woman holding a wounded relative during protests against Yemen's president.
2
Damir Sagolj of Bosnia-Herzegovina won the first prize for Daily Life Singles with this photograph of a building in North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, adorned with a photo of North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung.
3
Stephanie Sinclair of the United States won a prize for her series "Child Brides: Too Young To Wed." In this photo from Yemen, the girl dressed in pink was 6 years old when she married her husband.
4
Niclas Hammerstrom of Sweden won a prize for news with this image showing the aftermath of Anders Breivik's massacre on the island of Utoya. In an attempt to escape the killing, many children dumped their clothes and tried to swim for safety.
5
Yury Kozyrev of Russia won for this picture of rebel fighters in Ras Lanuf, Libya.
6
Yasuyoshi Chiba of Japan was honored for her "Aftermath of the Tsunami" series. In this photo, Chieko Matsukawa shows her daughter's graduation certificate, which she found in the debris of Higashimatsushima.
7
An Iranian-born Danish actress, Mellica Mehraban, is pictured by Denmark's Laerke Posselt in the portraits category.
8
Alex Majoli of Italy won a first prize with this picture of Egyptian protesters in Cairo crying, chanting, and screaming after listening to a speech in which President Hosni Mubarak said he would not give up power.
9
A male polar bear climbs precariously on a cliff above the ocean on the Russian island of Novaya Zemlya. Jenny E. Ross of the United States won first prize for this photo in the Nature Singles category.
10
Vincent Boisot of France won a prize for his picture of a model posing in front of tailor stalls in the center of Dakar, Senegal.
11
Alejandro Kirchuk of Argentina won a prize for his series "Never Let You Go." Both in their late 80s, Marcos leads Monica, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, from their bedroom to the living room.
12
This photo of the aftermath of Japan's tsunami won Italy's Paolo Pellegrin an award.
13
This picture, taken by Tomasz Lazar of Poland, shows protesters arrested during a demonstration against police tactics and income inequality in Harlem, New York City.
14
Ray McManus of Ireland captured this action picture during a rugby match between Old Belvedere and Blackrock, played in heavy rain in Dublin.
15
Australia's Adam Pretty captures divers practicing during a world championship meet in Shanghai.
16
Brent Stirton of South Africa won a first prize for this photograph of Maria, a drug addict and sex worker, in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.