I stood among the profound images at the World Press Photo 2023 exhibit on its last day at the Budapest National Museum of Hungary and wiped tears from my eyes.

It is not often I am moved to tears while looking at a photo exhibit.

I was reminded of the significant role photojournalism plays in our world. The power of an image to tell a story, elicit emotions, and spark meaningful conversations is truly remarkable. Those images are not just frozen moments. They are windows into our shared humanity.

One image, in particular, that caused the tears to flow was taken by photographer Alkis Konstantinidis and shows a woman weeping over the body of her father, who was killed in 2022 while buying bread in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

It was not just that image that caused the emotions to rise to the surface in the middle of the museum gallery, but so many photos in the exhibit from the talented, professional photojournalists.

Photojournalism is not just about capturing images. It’s about capturing the essence of our world.

Through the lens of a camera, photographers immortalize moments that convey the beauty, tragedy, and raw truth of our existence.

We don’t always like the images we see, nor do we always agree with the situation and scene that is being captured. However, images like those in the exhibit and those that are taken and published every day in a free press resonate with people across languages and cultures, evoking empathy and driving social change.

In any democracy, freedom of the press is the cornerstone of transparency, accountability, and safeguarding human rights. Journalists, including photojournalists, hold those in power accountable by exposing corruption, injustice, and oppression. They give voice to the voiceless, ensuring that the public is informed and empowered.

We are fortunate in the United States to have a democracy that gives us rights, including the right of a free press and freedom of speech.

However, the foundation of those rights can be chipped away if we allow our elected officials to twist the power that we give to them.

My visit to the World Press Photo exhibit and the National Museum of Hungary took an unexpected turn when I learned about the abrupt dismissal of the museum director, Simon L. Laszlo, the day after the World Press Photo exhibit closed. His firing was due to a small number of photos in the exhibit that portrayed gay men in a community in the Philippines. The news of his dismissal further highlights the challenging environment surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary.

Discrimination, prejudice, and persecution are human rights issues that transcend borders, and they are not foreign to us here in Alpena, in Michigan, and the United States.

The images from photojournalists give a face to the faceless and tell a story that is not easy to tell and sometimes not easy to see.

Journalists and photojournalists remind us of the suffering in distant lands, as well as local suffering, and urge us to seek peace and justice.

As we navigate the complexities of our time, we must remember that those principles are not just ideals but essential components of living in a just and inclusive society.

Bryan Dort wears many hats — a software consultant for an international firm, an award-winning professional photographer, and a certified commercial drone pilot. Rooted in Alpena with his wife, Lesslee, Bryan finds joy in the diverse intersections of technology, art, and everyday life.