Professional Current Affairs winner: A man tries to run from gunfire from Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana’s offices in Antananarivo on 7 February 2009. ‘After days of civil unrest, with factories and stores belonging to Madagascar’s president ablaze, Rajoelina, Madagascar city’s mayor (a 34-year-old former disc jockey) announced that Roindefo Monja, a politician from the Southwestern city of Tulear, would be the prime minister of his ‘transitional government’
Professional Sport winner: Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a backhand in his fourth round match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day seven of the 2009 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on 25 January 2009 in Melbourne, Australia
Professional Current Affairs winner: Two supporters of Antananarivo Mayor Andry Rajoelina take refuge behind a container as the police fire tear gas after a rally in the main avenue of the Madagascan capital Antananarivo on 16 February 2009
Professional Sport winner: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand in his fourth round match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day eight of the 2009 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on 26 January 2009 in Melbourne
Professional Arts & Entertainment winner: Kate Winslet, Golden Globes, Los Angeles, US, 2009. On assignment for the New York Times Magazine, Paolo Pellegrin photographed eight of the contenders for the Oscars 2009.
Professional Arts & Entertainment winner: Film Critics Awards, Los Angeles, 2009
Advertising winner: ‘Dirty mouth’ campaign shot for the UK COI for an NHS and HM Customs advertising campaign warning of the dangers of buying contraband cigarettes. Shot using real bugs, rats and smoke
Professional Music winner: ‘This photo is from the Ashoura mourning ritual held in the town of Bijar in Kurdistan, a province of Iran located in the western part of the country. In the town of Bijar, marchers cover themselves in mud to show their grief through music. The Mourning of Muharram is an important ritual in the Shi’a branch of Islam. It takes place during Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is also called the Remembrance of Muharram’
Professional Conceptual & Constructed winner: Pejantan Black Geyser, Day 131, Western End, Madura Forest
Professional Conceptual & Constructed winner: Iriamondi Cat, Day 60, 6km off Madura Forest ‘Pulau Pejantan is a remote island of Indonesia. Nicknamed Sand Forest Island, Pulau Pejantan has unique geographical features and bio-diversity. Virtually undiscovered till June 2005, the island boasts a treasure trove of species that are found nowhere else in the world, from the sand worms which move like packs of snakes around the island’s dunes to the Lantern Fish which greet you in the sea before you reach the island.’
Professional Natural History winner: The incredible art of silk. ‘When we wear silk clothes, we enjoy the beauty and the feeling to the touch and yet we never ask where it comes from or how it’s made. Small insect craftsmen by the scientific name Bombyx mori – the silkworm – create these threads and the process is unknown to most people.’
L’Iris d’Or/ Professional Contemporary Issues winner: ‘In the corridor of death, walking the last steps that lead into the so-called “trap”, the animals seem to be aware of their impending fate. The smell of death is in the air; the fear spreads amongst the animals waiting their turn as they see the one in front of them disappearing through an iron door.’
Professional Landscape winner: ‘The images show the direct viewpoint of the subject within the picture. We look at what the photographer – whether a press-photographer, nature photographer, enthusiast or professional – wants to take a picture of and therefore can imagine what this picture will look like and what the photographer wants to express.’
