This Award-Winning Photo Sums Up The Harrowing Refugee Crisis

Warren Richardson's picture of a baby crossing the Hungarian border was named World Press Photo's Photo of the Year for 2015.

"I was exhausted by the time I took the picture. It was around 3am and you can’t use a flash while the police are trying to find these people. So I had to use the moonlight alone."

Warren Richardson / Via World Press Photo

Warren Richardson had been camping at the border of Serbia and Hungary for five days with around 200 refugees. The group advanced nearer to Hungary little by little, moving behind trees and whatever else could camouflage them from the police. And one by one, babies, children, women, and men slipped through openings in the barbed wire to get to the other side.

The photo was taken on August 28, 2015, days before a secure fence on the same border was completed.

Richardson's picture titled "Hope for a New Life" was chosen as the Photo of the Year for 2015 by the World Press Photo organisation.

Koen Van Weel / AFP / Getty Images

The Australian-born photojournalist, who now resides in Budapest, claimed the grand prize and bested 5,775 photographers. His work was chosen among the many other submissions, some of which also focused on the refugee crisis in Europe.

While following this story, Richardson had his own brush with the law.

Jacek Tacik @jacektacik

W celi

11:42 PM - 16 Sep 2015

The Guardian reported that three journalists, including Richardson, were detained by Hungarian border police for illegal entry. It was said that they were released soon after through diplomatic intervention.

The other photos that won first prize at this year's World Press Photo Contest are:

Zhang Lei's "Haze in China"

Zhang Lei for Tianjin Daily / Via World Press Photo

Contemporary Issues, 1st prize singles

Kevin Frayer's "China's Coal Addiction"

Kevin Frayer / Getty Images / Via World Press Photo

Daily Life, 1st prize singles

Mauricio Lima's "IS Fighter Treated at Kurdish Hospital"

Mauricio Lima for The New York Times / Via World Press Photo

General News, 1st prize singles

Mary Calvert's "Sexual Assault in America’s Military"

Mary F. Calvert / ZUMA PRESS / Via World Press Photo

Long Term Projects, 1st prize

Rohan Kelly's "Storm Front on Bondi Beach"

Rohan Kelly for The Daily Telegraph / Via World Press Photo

Nature, 1st prize singles

Matic Zorman's "Waiting to Register"

Matic Zorman / Via World Press Photo

People, 1st prize singles

And Christian Walgram's "FIS World Championships"

Christian Walgram / GEPA pictures / Via World Press Photo

Sports, 1st prize singles