Adam Ferguson: photographing brave young women of Nigeria

The World Press Photo Exhibition is a prestigious contest for professional press photographers, photojournalists and documentary photographers. More than 80,000  photos from around 5000 photographers were submitted for this year's contest: just 45 photographers were awarded prizes. Australian Adam Ferguson won first place in the category of People's stories for his images of young women - Boko Haram survivors - in Nigeria. He talks about those photos but also about his years spent photographing war in Afghanistan.
The exhibition runs in Auckland from 30 June at Smith and Caughey's Gallery Space.

Winner of the World Press Photo Exhibition People's stories category. The image is of Aisha, aged 14. © Adam Ferguson, for The New York Times

Maryam, aged 16. © Adam Ferguson, for The New York Times

Falmata, aged 15. © Adam Ferguson, for The New York Times

Balaraba, aged 20. © Adam Ferguson, for The New York Times

Photographer Adam Ferguson.