March 24, 2022
Photograph of Evia Island Wildfire in Greece by Konstantinos Tskakalidis Honored in Singles Category
The photograph shows Panayiota Kritsiopi crying out as a wildfire approaches her house in the village of Gouves, on the island of Evia, Greece in August 2021.
Wildfires broke out on Evia – Greece’s largest island after Crete – in July and August, following the hottest weather Greece had experienced in 30 years.
Watch a Bloomberg Quicktake interview with photographer Tskakalidis from August here.
The World Press Photo 2022 Jury Report says: “The jury felt that this wonderfully composed image portrays a visceral and emotional connection between the woman and her surrounding landscape. Looking at the image, one can feel the overwhelming sense of loss which evokes a sense of mourning on multiple levels; emotional and environmental. Furthermore, the image is dramatic and presents a very real reaction to the fires, and the broader issue of the climate crisis, that is having a major impact on Europe.”
The World Press Photo Contest recognizes professional photographers for the best pictures – presented as singles or in stories – contributing to the past year of photojournalism and documentary photography. For its 65th edition, the contest saw 4,066 photographers enter 64,823 photographs.
See the full list of the 2022 regional winners here. Global winners will be announced on April 7.