11 outstanding photos nominated for the Lead Awards
Germany's Lead Awards honor outstanding media work, including photography. The photos are truly breathtaking. Here's the winning photo, and the best of the nominees.
Liberty or death
This picture, "Liberty or Death," by Olivier Jobard obtained the Lead Award "Photo of the Year." The French documentary photographer accompanied a group of Afghan refugees on their dangerous journey to Europe. Jobard captured the moment as the boat draws close to the Greek coast, lights beckoning in the distance.
Damage assessment
Among the other nominated photos for the award, this one shows Muhammed and Adel's devastated flat in northern Gaza. AFP photographer Roberto Schmidt followed them around the clock, documenting how they would spend nights watching over the little they still owned in the ruined house.
On the brink of the abyss
This photo of a woman mourning her sister who just died of Ebola is part of John Moore's 2014 photo series entitled "The Ebola Crisis Overwhelms the Liberian Capital." At the time, the epidemic had already claimed more than 1,000 lives. Moore's photos are testament to the people's helplessness and their desperate attempts to eliminate the disease.
Exhausted hooligans
It took Russian photographer Andrew Lubimov four months to gain the trust of these Ukrainian hooligans before they let their guard down. He documented the young men's total lack of prospects, how they would get into fights in soccer stadiums and brawls - and fall asleep in the bus afterwards.
Bryan Adams portrays Helmut Berger
Canadian rock star and photographer Bryan Adams has a knack for portraying people in a dignified manner long after they've lost all dignity. Helmut Berger, an Austrian actor and once a world star, is an old man ravaged by drugs and alcohol, but Adams managed to reveal a glimpse of the former jet set icon.
The magic of solitude
On the very edges of Siberia, an old meteorologist observes the weather, the ocean and the sheets of floating ice. In a haunting, impressive photo reportage, Evgenia Arbugaeva documents a lonely life in one of the most remote places in the world.
Lost in Los Angeles
Star photographer Thomas Struth captured the power of memories at Villa Aurora in Los Angeles, where many German artists found refuge during World War II. The pictures on the wall show prominent guests.
Remembering a star
Udo Jürgens' 80th birthday celebration was widely broadcast by the media. Despite the excitement of the day, photographer Adrian Crispin captured the hugely popular singer in an almost intimate moment. The Austrian-Swiss singer died in December 2014.
Private function
Photographer Jose Palazon shows how well the "fortress Europe" works in Melilla, a Spanish enclave in Morocco protected by border police and a fence six meters high. Europe is so close but out of reach to the Africans perched on top of the fence. The ladies playing golf in the foreground can't be bothered.
Bizarre landscape
Worldwide, Google has taken more photographs than any one photographer. New York architect and designer Clement Valla collected images of streets and bridges on Google Earth, and combined them to create a bizarre dream world.
Created by Lagerfeld
The fashion designer is no newcomer to the Lead Awards. This year, Karl Lagerfeld shows a model who practically disappears among the folds of her voluminous dusty pink dress and under her wide-brimmed hat.