PHOTO GALLERY: Czech Press Photo exhibition captures turbulence and joy

The best recent journalism photos from Czech and Slovak photographers can now be seen at the National Museum in the 34th Czech Press Photo exhibit.

An international jury of experts chose a photo of the Bucha massacre in Ukraine by Vojtěch Dárvík Máca as Photo of the Year 2022. Pictures on the topic of Ukraine and refugees were prevalent across several categories.

Other events seen in the exhibition include the celebration on the 22 tram on 2/22/2022, the Czech presidential campaign, the fire in Bohemian Switzerland, and cultural events like Colors of Ostrava.

Pictures are divided into eight photographic categories: news, reportage, daily life, portrait, people in the news, art and culture, sports, and humans and the environment. Some 234 photographers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia submitted over 6,000 works to the 34th Czech Press Photo competition.

Jury member Evgeniy Maloletka, a Ukrainian photographer, said it was important to show images as shocking as the winning photo. “People often do not know what really has happened there. The victims have been tortured and murdered, and the public must see these stories,” Maloletka said.

The picture shows the body of a murdered inhabitant of Bucha whose faithful dog has stayed next to him all this time.

"The dog’s innocent faithfulness is in contrast with all the horror of what lies before him. It reminds us that animals too suffer in war. Despite this, looking at the photo, we must ask ourselves: ‘Who are the real animals in this war?'" jury chairman Petr Mlch said.

The competition’s other main award, the Prague Grant, went to the freelance photographer Kevin V. Ton, who documented construction in Prague. The winner was selected by Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib.

“In recent years, Prague has been experiencing a record-breaking construction boom, in both the private and public sectors, and that’s why I decided to select a series of photos that maps this trend on our city’s territory,” Hřib said.

Along with the images of Czech and Slovak photojournalists, the emerging young generation is also represented. This is the second year for Czech Photo Junior, a competition for young photographers from elementary and secondary schools. Students competed in three categories.

The exhibition also includes Petr Vrabec's set Prague Peripheries, created with the help of a grant last year from the mayor, as well as a selection of photos by Ukrainian photographers Evgeniy Maloletka and Mstyslav Chernov documenting the siege of Mariupol.

In total, there are more than 450 printed photographs and 350 images in screens and projections by 120 authors.