World Press Photo is the most prestigious world press photo contest organised by the independent and non-profit organisation World Press Photo, established in the Netherlands 50 years ago. The World Press Photo exhibition was staged in Croatia for the first time in 2004. It was organised by the Dutch Embassy, the Croatian Journalists Association (HND), and the National University Library, as is this year's event.
The opening of the 2005 exhibition was attended, among others, by Dutch Ambassador Lionel Veer.
President Mesic expressed hope that photos by Croatian photographers would be shown at future World Press Photo exhibitions. HND president Dragutin Lucic said last year's World Press Photo show had encouraged Croatian photographers to stage the Croatian Press Photo exhibition to mark the 1700th anniversary of the city of Split, which would also be staged in several other Croatian cities.
The World Press Photo exhibition includes the photo by Reuters photographer Arka Datte from India which won the award as best photograph in 2004 in the individual photo category. The photo shows an Indian woman mourning the death of a cousin killed in a Tsunami wave in December 2004.
The exhibition will be open until June 5, Ambassador Veer said, announcing a workshop for photographers to be held in HND offices.