U.K. photographer Tim Hetherington took home the coveted top prize of the world's most respected photojournalism competition. His image of an exhausted American soldier, shot in Afghanistan on assignment from Vanity Fair, won World Press Photo of the Year 2007. Hetherington also took the second prize in the General News Stories category.

From an agency perspective, Getty Images dominated the 51st annual World Press Photo Contest. Five of 59 total prizes, including three first prizes, went to Getty photographers, more than any other agency.

In addition, other multiple-award winners in this year's competition specialize more narrowly than the stock-image powerhouse. Such winners included VII with four awards, and Agency Vu and the National Geographic with three each. Agence France-Presse, Agenzia Contrasto, Magnum, Noor and Panos Pictures each won two awards.

Getty Images' photographer and 2005 Pulitzer recipient John Moore won two top awards in the Spot News category for his coverage of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Getty's Brent Stirton won the first prize in Contemporary Issues Singles and Daniel Berehulak took third prize for People in the News Singles. Jeff Hutchens, represented by Getty's Reportage, won second prize in Nature Singles.

The World Press Photo Contest was chaired by VII Photo Agency's Gary Knight. Jury members included photographers, photojournalists and photo editors from well-known media outlets and agencies, as well as independent practitioners.