Associated Press photo editors this week published a curated gallery of vertical images from April 22-28, 2026, documenting a world marked by gun violence at high-profile events, ongoing displacement crises, and the stark realities faced by vulnerable communities across multiple continents.
The collection, titled "See the world in vertical: Top photos by AP photojournalists," includes striking documentation of the shooting incident at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026. Images show a tipped-over wine glass sitting in a bowl on an abandoned table after gunfire erupted, and members of law enforcement controlling shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen during the event. A protester holding a head costume depicting Pete Hegseth was also photographed outside the venue.
Displacement and Violence
The gallery captures the human toll of violence and instability in the Western Hemisphere. In Cajibio, Colombia, a photograph from April 28, 2026, shows a relative mourning during a funeral for a family member who was killed in an attack on the Pan-American Highway that authorities blamed on dissident former FARC rebels. In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, children are pictured standing next to a police officer during a visit from Jordanian Princess Sarah Zeid, a World Food Programme advisor, at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence on April 27, 2026.
Health Crises and Celebrations
The selection also documents health challenges in conflict-affected regions. Abbas Awad, who has glaucoma, poses for a portrait at his home in Qoz Nafisa village, Sudan, on April 22, 2026. Meanwhile, images of celebration include worshippers watching fireworks on the feast day of Saint George outside Saint George Church in Rio de Janeiro on April 23, 2026, and a boy releasing an owl that has been restored to health at the bird hospital 'Green Parrot', marking Earth Day, on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 22, 2026.
Political and Cultural Moments
The gallery captures formal diplomatic events, including President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles attending the arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 28, 2026. Cultural moments include Anne Hathaway and Donatella Versace standing before photographers upon their arrival to the premiere of the film 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' in London on April 22, 2026, and Billie Eilish posing for photographers upon arrival at the screening of her film "Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)" in London on April 28, 2026.
Sporting events are represented by Michael Brennan sending mud and water flying as he tries to hit his ball out of floating debris on the 18th hole, only to have it land back in the water, during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale on April 23, 2026; Galatasaray's Baris Yilmaz celebrating scoring his side's second goal during a Turkish Super Lig soccer match against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 26, 2026; and horses coming off the track after a workout at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on April 27, 2026. CEO of Xpeng He Xiaopeng was photographed arriving at his company's booth during the Auto China in Beijing on April 24, 2026.
Why This Matters:
This week's photojournalism reveals the interconnected crises affecting vulnerable populations worldwide. The documentation of gun violence at a major Washington media event, displacement caused by gang violence in Haiti, and ongoing conflict-related deaths in Colombia underscores the persistent threat that armed violence poses to civilians and democratic institutions. The visit by a World Food Programme advisor to displaced families in Haiti highlights the humanitarian response required when state capacity fails to protect citizens from organized violence. Images of health challenges in Sudan, where Abbas Awad lives with glaucoma, reflect broader concerns about access to medical care in conflict-affected regions. These photographs serve as visual evidence of the need for stronger public safety measures, international humanitarian coordination, and institutional accountability in protecting the most vulnerable from violence and displacement.