A photojournalist from Sermitsiaq, Oscar Scott Carl, was named the winner of the prestigious Press Photo of the Year 2025 award on Friday.
The award ceremony will take place at the Black Diamond in Copenhagen, and Oscar Scott Carl has been nominated for the award with a photo from the large Trump demonstration that took place on March 15, 2025 in Nuuk.
In its justification for the award, the jury writes, among other things, that the photo describes a major crisis that could change the world order:
- This photograph from Greenland, which has been named Press Photo of the Year, is important for both the present and the future. Because it shows the biggest crisis we have experienced in many years, and which could change the entire world order.
- It was taken at the largest demonstration in Greenland's history, and the Greenlanders in the picture stand as one people – and they stand together against Trump, writes the jury, who also note that there are only Greenlandic flags in the photo:
- It is as if the people are an extension of the mountains in the background and with pride and dignity show their voice for Greenland: 'We are Greenland, we are not Denmark or the USA.'
Award recipient: Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders
It was a moved Oscar Scott Carl who received the award. In his acceptance speech, he began by repeating the message from the demonstration:
- As people shouted all day; Kalaallit Nunaat, kalaallit pigaat. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.
Oscar Scott Carl further says that it has been an intense year in Greenland, where the entire range of emotions has been at play:
- Regardless of whether you are a photojournalist or a citizen of the country. Children have cried themselves to sleep because they were afraid that someone might stand the next day and have taken over their country.
- When I photographed American military planes landing at our airport, I found out that it was an outpost for Usha Vance, but I thought to myself: Is this what is happening now, says Oscar Scott Carl at the award ceremony and continues:
- So everything has been on the line, and when people are in it, it also creates a sense of unity. I experienced that on this day (when the photo was taken, ed.). It is difficult to just be a photojournalist on a day like that.
- I am extremely happy to receive this award, and I am extremely happy that the time is hopefully now for the relationship between Denmark and Greenland to move forward in a direction where we can somehow create equality and see each other as the people we are.
- There needed to be a Trump..
In its justification for giving the award to the photo from Nuuk, the jury further writes that there is something folk about it, and at the same time the light and colors are very Greenlandic.
- There have been many series from Greenland in the competition this year, and all the images are also a recognition of the Greenlandic people, which has been historically lacking. But it obviously took a Trump before we started talking about Greenland in this way, the justification reads.
The Press Photo of the Year is awarded by the Danish Press Photographers' Association, and prizes are awarded in 18 categories. The "Press Photo of the Year" award is designated as the main prize at the award ceremony.
The photo was selected from 2,196 submitted images.
