A FIRST IN 25 YEARS! QUEBEC PHOTOGRAPHER CHARLES-FRÉDÉRICK OUELLET WINNER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS WORLD PRESS PHOTO COMPETITION
WORLD PRESS PHOTO MONTREAL EXHIBITION RETURNS TO BONSECOURS MARKET
FROM AUGUST 28 TO OCTOBER 14, 2024
Montreal, April 3rd, 2024 – The World Press Photo Montréal exhibition’s team is thrilled to announce the regional winners of World Press Photo 2024 by the World Press Photo Foundation in Amsterdam today. For the first time in 25 years, a Quebecer stands out among the winners: documentary photographer Charles-Frédérick Ouellet is among the winners in the North and Central America region, in the Single Image category, for his photograph taken during the forest fires that ravaged several areas of Quebec in the summer of 2023. In this black-and-white photo, auxiliary combatant Théo Dagnaud scans the horizon at the very end of a patrol, to make sure there’s no smoke visible on the horizon. The images in this series were produced with the support of the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec and The Globe and Mail.
Charles-Frédérick Ouellet thus becomes the second Quebec winner of an award from the prestigious international photography competition, 25 years after Roger Lemoyne, who made the list in 1999. Charles-Frédérick Ouellet’s photo will be on display at the World Press Photo Montreal exhibition at Bonsecours Market from August 28 to October 14, as well as in all the cities the exhibition visits around the world throughout 2024.
“This image is a silent moment, far away from the world of humans. It stands more as a moment where you realize that you are part of the ecosystem, not above it’’, says Charles-Frédérick Ouellet.
“The entire World Press Photo Montreal exhibition’s team congratulates Charles-Frédérick on this prestigious award, which is as exceptional as it is well-deserved. His sublime and sensitive photo will stimulate reflection and introspection, in addition to informing and touching more than four million visitors worldwide”, says Yann Fortier, General Manager of the Montreal event.
An eagerly awaited 17th edition
Celebrating its 17th edition this year, the World Press Photo Montreal exhibition is one of the most popular in the world. To better meet public demand, for the second year running, the event will take place over six weeks instead of four, from August 28 to October 14, at the Bonsecours Market in Old Montreal.
This year, the winning photos were selected from over 61,000 entries submitted by 3,851 photographers from 130 countries, for a total of 24 winning projects and six honorable mentions, as well as two special mentions by exceptional decision of the jury.
The images cover themes ranging from the war between Israel and Hamas to the climate crisis and the family. The works invite viewers to step outside the news cycle and take an in-depth look at remarkable but little-known stories from around the world.
Various independent and specialized international juries have chosen the regional World Press Photo winners for 2024. Divided into four categories – Single Images, Series, Long-Term Projects and Free Format – the global winners will be announced on April 18 in Amsterdam.
About World Press Photo
Founded in 1955, the World Press Photo Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization with its headquarters in Amsterdam. The foundation is committed to supporting and advancing high standards of photojournalism and documentary storytelling worldwide. Each year, the exhibition travels to more than 100 cities in 45 countries and is seen by more than 4 million visitors. World Press Photo receives support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and PwC.
The World Press Photo Montreal exhibition receives support from Radio-Canada, La Presse, and SDC Vieux-Montréal.
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