The World Press Photo Yearbook 2001, a compilation of the results of the competition of the same name, is a compelling visual record of the last year. The pictures in the book graphically cover all events from news through daily life, wildlife, sport and science.
In today's overload of electronic information, where breaking news is delivered as the events unfold, the power of the still picture reigns supreme. As Marvin Krone pointed out, its unique quality is that it preserves forever a finite fraction of the infinite time of the universe.
The World Press Photo competition, the largest and most prestigious in the world, is run by a non-profit foundation set up in the Netherlands in 1955 to promote the work of all aspects of press photography. It produces this volume for the 44th time.
This year, the judges chose from 42,321 pictures submitted by 3,938 photographers from 122 countries. Seamus Murphy, a consistent winner in this competition, represents Ireland, winning second prize in Sports Stories with a stunning essay on the Sierra Leone Olympic hopefuls in training.
The content this year matches the same high quality for which the publication has become known. There appears to be more black and white than I remember in previous editions, which would seem to indicate the photographers' desire to return to traditional photography - where the true "artists" believe they hold absolute control of the image from start to finish.
As part of the overall package of competition and book, the organisers also compile a wonderful exhibition, which this year will visit Galway. It can be seen in the Eyre Square Centre from the 24th of this month until July 14th.
This book is a must for anybody interested in photography - but also for the person who just wants to remember, in the mind's eye, the major events of the year gone by.
Dermot O'Shea is Picture Editor of The Irish Times