Photojournalist of the Year 2018

The judge’s remarks:

The scars are graphic and the look on six-year-old Karma Jariett's face is haunting and sad. While Dax Melmer uses natural light to create a stunning image that shocks and leaves you breathless, it is the rarity of what you are seeing that makes it so powerful. Dog attacks are all too common and appear relatively regularly in the news. But we rarely see the aftermath.

This alarming photograph also manages to do two things simultaneously - it takes you back and it forces you to look forward. Initially you think of how horrifying the attack must have been to leave this child so mangled. However, the viewer is also forced to think about the future for this little girl living with these physical scars. The best news feature photographs combine striking imagery while telling a story. This image is arresting and makes the viewer want to know more about what happened.