World Press Photo exhibit makes U.S. debut in Philly

    An international news photography exhibit featuring powerful images of conflict, hope and daily life will make its first U.S. stop in Philadelphia.

    The World Press Photo exhibition opens Wednesday at Drexel University’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery. It runs through May 21.

    The nearly 150 prize-winning pictures taken last year depict scenes of war, natural disasters, sporting events and contemporary issues.

    World Press Photo is based in Amsterdam. Its annual competition drew nearly 100,000 entries from 132 countries.

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    Organizers say the display will travel to 100 venues worldwide and eventually be seen by about 2 million people.

    The show includes the photo of the year. The nighttime image portrays Africans holding up their illuminated cellphones in search of a signal. John Stanmeyer of the VII photo agency took it for National Geographic.

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