It is practically impossible for me to pass any kind of judgment on this image regarding its merits as an award winner, precisely because of the subject matter. Why are we granting prizes to people taking photographs of souls whose lives are in peril? I’m certain this was a devastating scenario for the photographer to witness, and I am grateful that journalists expose the world to any scenario around the globe that is not in one’s immediate sightline — but the idea that this moment framed in this way was better or worse than another photo of another humanely horrific incident seems off to me.

And so this is a best photograph of the worst possible situation. The image is successfully evocative, moving the viewer to feelings of great sadness about these displaced Chadian women — particularly the central skeletal female. And though I think the photographer is incredibly talented this shot would technically be more effective if the left side wasn’t a flat burn of dense black color or if it was cropped out entirely (except obviously the infant adds more pathos). However, given the gravity of this incident that quibble is besides the point.