By Musée’s Editorial Staff

World Press Photo Foundation announces nominees for Story of the Year, Cancels Award Ceremony

Of 4,282 photographers around the world who entered the 2020 World Press Photo awards, three have been nominated for Story of the Year.

Danish photojournalist Nicolas Asfouri was nominated for his work documenting anti-government, pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The work, aptly titled “Hong Kong Unrest,” depicts defiant protesters clashing with riot police.

Associated Press photographer Mulugeta Ayene’s coverage of the Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 crash in 2019 also earned him a nomination. His photo story, “Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Crash Site,” documents emergency responders picking through the Boeing 737 MAX’s wreckage, mourning relatives, curious children and burnt remains of the deceased’s belongings.

Algerian photojournalist Romain Laurendeau’s, “Kho, the Genesis of a Revolt,” earned his story of the year nomination. Laurendeau’s black and white images follow the day-to-day routines and government resistance of Algeria’s unemployed young adults who make up 72% of the country’s population under 30.

In an unsurprising wave of cancellations, WordPress Photo Award ceremony and festivals have been canceled due laso to the coronavirus pandemic. The original event was scheduled to take place in Amsterdam between April 16-18, although the winners of the awards will still be announced and presented online on April 16, as planned.

Roger Fenton’s “photographic van,” courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Rare Print from Roger Fenton’s Crimean War series to be auctioned by Sotheby’s.

An original Roger Fenton print thought to have been passed through generations of the photographer’s family for 150 years will be sold at auction April 3 at Sotheby’s. The high-end auction house estimates the print will sell for around $120,000.

Fenton is known primarily for his work documenting the Crimean War and created these images around 1855. The print available for auction was created in 1856 as a wet collodion glass negative. “A Quiet Day in the Mortar Battery,” will be available for public viewing at Sotheby’s along with 230 other works before the April 3 auction.

LVMH halts perfume production, produces hand sanitizer for French Health Authority

As a response to the now 120 coronavirus deaths in France, Louis Vuitton parent company LMVH will halt all perfume manufacturing in order to produce hand sanitizer that will be delivered free of charge to the French Health Authority.

The company also produces scents for Christian Dior and Givenchy, but has committed to using its factories as emergency production facilities indefinitely as world governments increasingly request that prominent manufacturers aid in production of items running low during the coronavirus pandemic.

“LMVH will continue to honor this commitment for as long as necessary, in connection with the French authorities,” the company announced in a statement Monday. The changes go into effect immediately.

Mexico, Tijuana. 2019. Pro Amore Shelter. © Alessandra Sanguinetti / Magnum Photos; Mexico.

A Photography Exhibit Exploring Trump’s Influence to Close Due to COVID-19

In light of Trump’s regressive administration and the transforming political response to issues around immigration — there is much to be said in terms of the social implications that permeate through America and neighboring countries. Curated by Michael Kamber and Cynthia Rivera, Trump Revolution: Immigration explores how American immigration policy has profoundly affected American society and the lives of millions of immigrants. Featuring work by eight artists, and a new project from Magnum Photos, this exhibition – which includes image, video, text, and audio interviews – examines America’s political transformation since the Trump administration.

The opening of this event was scheduled for March 28th at 6pm at the Bronx Documentary Center and was to be presented by photographer Peter van Agtmael. This event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To our readers:

As confirmed cases of coronavirus rise around the country and the world, individual artists and freelancers are increasingly left without work and a way to support themselves financially. These individuals do not have access to the resources, sick leave, or paid time off others might have.

You may be one of them. You may know one of them. During this period, creating and supporting artistic communities is more important than ever. We urge you to do what you can while taking the health precautions laid out by the CDC.

Here’s how you can help: