Photojournalist John Stanmeyer's World Press Photo of the Year Featured in Think Tank Photo's New “About A Photograph” Video

Think Tank Photo's newest About A Photograph video features the story behind photojournalist John Stanmeyer's award-winning photo of African migrants on the shore of Djibouti City at night, their phones raised in an attempt to capture an inexpensive signal from neighboring Somalia. The international jury of the 57th annual World Press Photo Contest recently selected his image as the World Press Photo of the Year 2013. The video can be found at http://blog.thinktankphoto.com/about-a-photograph/.

In the video, Stanmeyer relates that, "This is a perfect example of modern day migration and the issues of modern day migration and our ability and desire to reconnect with our loved ones back home... It's about hope."

Jillian Edelstein, jury member from the UK/South Africa said: "It's a photo that is connected to so many other stories-it opens up discussions about technology, globalization, migration, poverty, desperation, alienation, humanity. It's a very sophisticated, powerfully nuanced image. It is so subtly done, so poetic, yet instilled with meaning, conveying issues of great gravity and concern in the world today."

John Stanmeyer, born in Illinois, is a founding member of the VII photo agency. Living in the Far East for over 12 years, he has witnessed throughout that time nearly every major historical event in Asia, photographing the rapid changes taking place throughout the entire region. Working globally, he has focused on the plight of refugees from the Ugandan civil war, spent months chronicling the effects of the 2004 Tsunami and documented the mental healthcare crises in Asia.

He has been the recipient of numerous honors including the prestigious Robert Capa award, named Magazine Photographer of the Year, awarded numerous World Press, Picture of the Year and NPPA awards and in 2008 received the National Magazine Award for this in-depth essay on the global Malaria epidemic.

Think Tank Photo's "About a Photograph video series features some of the world's leading photographers recounting the stories behind their images that captured global attention. Each short video focuses on the forces that led up to that perfect moment in time when subject, story, setting, equipment, and photographer converged.

"About A Photograph" is produced by Kurt Rogers and Deanne Fitzmaurice, Think Tank Photo's co-founders and award-winning photojournalists. The video series will feature current as well as classic and historic photographs that span a range of styles, including documentary/photojournalistic, fine art, nature/environment, sports, and politics.

About Think Tank Photo
Think Tank Photo is a group of designers and professional photographers focused on studying how photographers work, and developing inventive new carrying solutions to meet their needs. By focusing on "speed" and "accessibility," we prepare photographers to Be Ready "Before The Moment," allowing them to document those historic moments that reflect their personal visions and artistic talents. We design products that help photographers travel easier, take pictures faster, and organize their gear more efficiently.