Images of a rhino in captivity, a Slovakian spa facility and a German finger wrestling champion are among the finalists and shortlisted entries in the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2024.

A total of 30 finalists were chosen across the competition’s 10 professional categories, which span portraiture, sport, landscape and the environment, with a further three to seven photographers shortlisted in each category.

The winners will be announced in April and an exhibition of the photos is set to go on display at London’s Somerset House.

The World Photography Awards organizes several different competitions each year, including youth and student prizes, with its national and regional winners unveiled last month. This year’s program attracted over 395,000 images, according to a press release. A representative for the World Photography Organization declined to tell CNN how many of those photos were eligible for the professional contest, but said that they had received the highest number of entries in the competition’s 17-year history.

In a press statement, jury chair Monica Allende lauded the “diverse, high-quality and creative spectrum” of this year’s selection. “The jury was captivated by the passionate storytelling; capturing both the joys and the challenges of human existence across our planet,” she added.

Scroll down to see a selection of finalists and shortlisted entries in this year’s awards.

Booking photographs of criminal suspects could no longer be made public by state corrections officials under a bill passed by the House of Delegates.

After about an hour of debate, delegates passed the bill on a 54-46 vote. 

As the internet search engines have made it possible to come across mugshots years after a criminal charge, some citizens who have experienced arrests have complained that those records have made it challenging to put the past behind or navigate the job market. Advocates for the bill say they have those people in mind.

Delegate David Kelly, R-Tyler, described a “wall of shame” with mugshots on social media sites.

“These third-party people, they don’t take them down automatically, so that young person’s life can be forever turned upside down because of a mistake that was made. It’s almost impossible to redeem yourself.”

West Virginia media organizations and some delegates have countered that mugshots of arrests represent community news and that prohibiting access amounts to prior restraint. Delegates critical of the bill also contended mugshots are a public safety tool as well as a kind of protection against secret arrests.

“It’s fundamental that we notify the public of who we have in custody,” said Delegate Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh. “This bill makes West Virginia less safe. This bill makes the state less secure.”

House Bill 4621 says “photographs of a person for identification purposes taken by the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation or any other county or state jail facility upon booking into the facility are not public records and shall not be disclosed to the public.”

There are some exceptions, such as cases of fugitives where releasing a photo could help identify a fleeing suspect or if officials determine the person is an imminent threat. Mugshots can also be released after a conviction or a guilty plea.

But, generally, the bill says “these booking photographs shall not be published or disseminated to the public.”

“Protect the innocent people that are not convicted of these crimes,” said Delegate Geoff Foster, R-Putnam.

The bill has specific directions for outlets that publish mugshots to the internet with the main goal of seeking payment for taking them down. Those outlets have to take down the photographs upon request for people who have been found not guilty or had their charge dropped.

The bill defines and differentiates news outlets from those remove -for-pay sites. Nevertheless, news outlets would not be able to publish booking photographs if they are no longer made public.

“As a news organization, I think we should be able to publish the news and publish photographs and report the news,” said Delegate Mike Hornby, R-Berkeley.

Delegate Keith Marple, R-Harrison, spoke against the bill and said booking photos are useful for people to be on the watchout in their neighborhoods.

“Citizens need to see these pictures, as well as the officers, to know who’s committing crimes in their neighborhood,” Marple said. “It’s a useful tool for police work and for citizens.”

February 27, 2024

Warwick Valley High School sophomore Brooke Squillante is an award-winning photographer. She remembers how her photo-savvy aunt would position her and other relatives for family photos on holidays and special occasions, and shared that it was her aunt’s creative process, and the pictures that would come of it, that first captivated her and piqued her interest in the art form.

“I’d always watch her; I was just really interested in it,” said Brooke. “It was about five years ago that I ended up getting my first DSLR camera for Christmas. It was the same as [my aunt’s], because I wanted to do the exact same thing she was doing. And, over the years, I’ve just been gaining more interest in it.”

Back on February 2, Brooke won a Gold Key Award in photography at the regional 2024 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, hosted by the arts department at SUNY New Paltz. Her winning piece, entitled Green Gecko, represents one of Brooke’s favorite photographic subjects, animals. Brooke said she started taking pictures of her cats right away when she received that first camera.

“I was always around them, so it was consistent, and I just started practicing on them whenever I’d get the chance,” said Brooke. “I loved getting up and close, trying to capture the look in their eyes.”

The more Brooke photographed her household pets (her three geckos included), the more she realized just how much she enjoyed wildlife photography, and began seeking out additional sources of inspiration.

“I’d watch National Geographic documentaries for hours,” said Brooke, adding that she also loves to peruse their website, taking in all of the amazing wildlife photography for which Nat Geo is well known. When she received her first zoom lens two Christmases after getting her first camera, that interest really took off!

“The lens was a 70-200 mm! That was fun. It helped me with a lot of my photos,” said Brooke. “I started going out and following bald eagles around where they live; I’ve been doing that for a while. It’s really inspiring.”

Brooke’s interest in wildlife photography also intersects nicely with her academic interests. She is currently enrolled in, and enjoying, Earth Science, and enjoyed her Living Environment and Animal Science classes last year. Living near Greenwood Lake, she said, has been a benefit when it comes to exploring habitats and finding subjects. Some of her favorite moments to capture are birds in mid-motion flight.

“I’ll go down by the lake and there might be some mallards, some swans occasionally, or I’ll catch smaller birds sitting at the edge of the trees. I try to capture as many different species as I can,” said Brooke with a laugh. “I’ve spent way too many hours watching birds, just sitting there waiting for them to come around.”

As for that award-winning photo, Ms. Penny helped Brooke choose Green Gecko for the competition from a selection of Brooke’s own personal favorites.

“In my opinion,” said Ms. Penny, “all of Brooke’s photos are worthy of winning awards. She is exceptionally skilled, and anyone who takes a look at her personal work and school projects, they’re as impressed as I am.”

Brooke said that at first she was shocked to find out she’d won the Gold Key Award from Scholastic, but that she is proud of her accomplishment.

“I didn’t really expect to win,” she said. “It was definitely a surprise. It felt even bigger when I got to the ceremony and got up on stage to receive the award.”

Brooke took Digital Photography I with Ms. Penny earlier this year, and even though she’s not currently enrolled in a photography class, still spends as much time as she can in Ms. Penny’s room during the week, discussing and exploring photography. Having recently upgraded her camera set-up, Brooke is as motivated as ever and determined to continue working on her craft, including looking forward to Digital Photography II next year.

Does Brooke have any advice for young students and photographers?

“You’ve just got to keep trying. Try everything when you can; everything you can think of,” said Brooke. “It might take a little time, but you’ll figure it out, and you’ll figure out what you like and what you enjoy.”

Taylor Swift‘s team is speaking out after her father, Scott Swift, was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a photographer.

Australia’s Sky News reported Tuesday (February 27) that Scott, 71, was accused of assaulting a photographer hours after his daughter’s latest Eras Tour show in Sydney. Police confirmed that they were investigating an incident were “a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf” around 2:30 a.m. local time; however, the identities of the individuals involved were not released, per People. The younger man reported the incident to police but did not require medical treatment.

Photographer Ben McDonald told CNN that he learned Swift was on a yacht in the harbor after her show and that when she got off the boat, a member of security forced an umbrella into face and camera. He also claimed the Midnights singer’s father punched him and added that her entourage was “aggressive and unprofessional.”

A spokesperson for Swift addressed the incident, saying there was a situation involving aggressive individuals reportedly trying to get near the “Anti-Hero” singer and making threats to staff.

“Two individuals were aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and threatening to throw a female staff member into the water,” the rep said in a statement to People.

On February 27, 1949, R. E. “Buster” Hogan, a Birmingham News – Age-Herald photographer, shared his career anecdotes with the YMCA Camera Club in Talladega, while Murphy Cole emphasized photography’s significance in nurse recruitment at Anniston Memorial Hospital. The same day, financial hurdles thwarted a new high school project west of Anniston, an event paralleled fifty years later when Duane Higgins was appointed president of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce for his dynamic approach, marking a leadership transition on February 27, 1999.

Photography: A Tool for Social Influence and Education

Hogan’s storytelling session and Cole’s insights into photography’s utility in healthcare underscored the medium’s evolving societal role. Hogan’s anecdotes from his 18-month tenure illustrated photography’s capacity to capture life’s whimsical moments, while Cole’s discussion highlighted its instrumental role in professional settings, especially in nurse training and recruitment, showcasing its broader implications beyond mere documentation.

Financial Constraints and Leadership Evolution

The decision by the Calhoun County Board of Education against constructing a new high school due to budget limitations underscored the perennial issue of financial constraints in public projects. Contrastingly, the leadership change in 1999, with Higgins’ appointment as president of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, illustrated a shift towards dynamic leadership aimed at revitalizing the organization. Higgins, known for his high energy and interpersonal skills, was chosen to steer the chamber into a new era, succeeding a presidency that lasted less than 15 months.

Social and Organizational Change Through Time

The juxtaposition of events from 1949 and 1999 reveals the multifaceted role of photography in societal evolution and the constant challenge of financial limitations in public initiatives. Moreover, it underscores the importance of dynamic leadership in organizational success, demonstrating how different eras reflect varying challenges and opportunities for growth and change.

The historical narrative woven through these events encourages reflection on how photography has served as a catalyst for social awareness and change, while leadership transitions and financial decisions continue to shape the course of community and organizational development. The stories of Hogan, Cole, and Higgins remind us of the enduring impact of these factors on societal progress and the ever-evolving landscape of community needs and aspirations.

A photo book and pop-up exhibition by Staunton-based photographer Jeremy Stern is a photo exploration of individuals in Costa Rica building a wooden sailing ship in the jungle.

The Staunton Augusta Art Center will host the book release of “Displacement: Photo Book and Pop-Up Exhibition” on Friday, March 1, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Minimally subsiding at a jungle shipyard in Costa Rica, an idiosyncratic commune is building the world’s largest wooden cargo sailing ship. Their mission is to offer competitive zero emission shipping using traditional tall ships. Years behind schedule, and millions in debt to investors, the unique subculture is striving for an alternative future.

The Staunton Augusta Art Center, R. R. Smith Center for History & Art, is at 20 S. New Street, Staunton. Admission is free and open to the public.