The Best of Photojournalism: Newspaper and Magazine Pictures of the Year

Eleven judges for the 48th annual Pictures of the Year competition offer more than 280 provocative and often grim newspaper and magazine photos representative of 1990's finest photojournalism. Orange County, Calif., photographer Paul Kuroda garners top awards here for his dynamic color impressions of illegal immigrants on the move from Mexico and black-and-white shots of Vietnamese youth gangs. Also honored is Donna Ferrato of the Black Star photo agency, who documents domestic violence in pictures of a married couple and of seven abused women from diverse cultures and different generations, all imprisoned for killing their violent husbands. James Nachtwey of the Magnum photo agency, named this competition's Magazine Photographer of the Year for the fourth year in a row, chronicles violence in such countries as Burma and Afghanistan, and portrays the agony of institutionalized children in Romania. Deprived children, the plight of the elderly, drugs, crime and the global impact of AIDS are unflinchingly depicted. Although not entirely devoid of whimsy or hope, this collection is marked by anguish, a testament to human struggles and suffering. (Dec.)