1998 World Press Photo

  • Thames Hudson
1998 World Press Photo, £12.95 (pbk)

The German anatomist Gunther von Hagens preserves human bodies by a process he calls ‘plastination’, in which he replaces all of the water and fat with silicone and other polymers. He began by creating anatomical preparations for educational purposes, but now also exhibits them at controversial shows. The corpses are obtained through a donation programme.

This image by Marc Steinmetz of von Hagens at work is from the science and technology section of 1998 World Press Photo (Thames and Hudson, £12.95 (pbk)), a remarkable collection of the previous year's most striking examples of photojournalism. The book brings together the winners of the 41st World Press Photo Contest.