The 25th year of the photojournalism contest Czech Press Photo knows the names of this year's nominated contestants. The nine-member international jury's choice wasn't easy at all, because they had to judge and choose from over 40 thousand pictures by 270 authors from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Only 24 best photos could make it into the finale that will take place at the Old Town Hall at the end of November. Let's have a look at some of them!
There were eight photo categories in the competition, those being Reportage, Spot news, Daily life, Portrait, Art and Culture, People in the news, Humans and the environment and Sports. This year, the jury judged the individual photos and series of photos in the competition categories together, not individually like they used to do.
"I want to thank all of the contestants. The quality of the photos we received was high, the jury had a tough job and especially the photos that have made it to the final round were especially hard to judge and choose the winners out of. The final decision always depends on the jury's tastes. I'm positive that the exhibition of the silver year of the Czech Press Photo contest will be amazing,"
said Veronika Souralová, director of Czech Press Photo.
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A Hasidic wedding, Protest against Babiš or In the eyes of a murderer
Petr Vrabec, Jan Zátorský a Tomáš Vocelka secured a nomination in the Reportage category. Nominated in the "Spot news" category were Lukáš Bíba who attracted a lot of attention with his photo related to the demonstrations against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, and Matěj Kalina, who also won the jury's attention with his photo titled In the eyes of a murderer, which captures Miroslav Marček, who confessed to the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kušnírová, surrounded by police.
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Lukáš Bíba, Demonstration against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Nominated in News categorySource: Czech Press Photo
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Jan Zátorský - Unique Hasidic Wedding, Nominated in Reportage categorySource: Czech Press Photo
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Jan Zátorský - A unique Hasidic wedding.Source: Czech Press Photo
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Matěj Kalina - In the eyes of a murderer.Source: Czech Press Photo
Captured moments
Ivana Dostálová, Michael Tomeš and Kateřina Šulová were nominated in the "Portrait" category. The nominees in the "Daily life" category are: Jan Hromádko, Jan Jirkovský and Michal Růžička.
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Michael Tomes, Lady in Black. Nominated in Portrait categorySource: Czech Press Photo
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Jan Jirkovský, Canistherapy at Princess Emma's Home. Nominated in Everyday Life category.Source: Czech Press Photo
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Michal Růžička, Rain in Prague on Anděl. Nominated in Everyday Life categorySource: Czech Press Photo
Swan Lake at the National Theater
Three photographers were nominated in the "Art and Culture" category: Martin Divíšek, who turned his attention towards Swan Lake at the National Theater, then Marek Malis who captured the Ballet Hommes Fatals backstage, and photographer Amos Chapple.
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Martin Divíšek, Swan LakeSource: Czech Press Photo
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Martin Divíšek, Swan LakeSource: Czech Press Photo
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Ammos Chapple, The Forgotten CommunistSource: Czech Press Photo
People in the news
Tomáš Benedikovič, Petr Topič and Roman Vondruš can boast about their nominations in this category.
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Roman Vondrouš Source: Czech Press Photo
Humans and the environment and Sports
Here the jury chose photos by Aleš Tvrdý, Dan Materna and Petr Topič. Fighting for the prize in the last category, Sports, will be Jan Kepič, Tomáš Holcbecher a Martin Kozák.
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Petr Topič, Bird WatchSource: Czech Press Photo
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Jan Kepič, Skater and freediverSource: Czech Press Photo
The winning photos, including the grand prize Photo of the Year that tends to be the most important award, will be announced at the award ceremony at Old Town Hall on November 22, which will also mark the start of the annual exhibition of the winning works. The Prague Grant award, which is also a part of the competition, went to Jan Rasch. The winner has been chosen by the Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib.
