Rules and Categories 2023

The Czech Press Photo competition is entering its 29th year. The competition is open to Czech and Slovak photographers residing in the Czech Republic or Slovak Republic, with works created for the purpose of publication in the media.

The Czech Press Photo competition has received patronage from the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, Martin Baxa, and the Mayor of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda.

A competitive exhibition and photography showcase. CZECH PHOTO o.p.s. and the City of Prague invite photographers from the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic to participate in the 29th edition of the Czech Press Photo journalistic photography competition.

APPLICATION 2023

Contest categories

It is necessary to carefully read the rules – adhere to the period in which the photographs were taken, pay attention to the proper captioning. Please note that unlike previous editions, singles and series are not separated and compete together in the same category.

Spot News (single/series)

These are news photos of unexpected events for which the photographer could not prepare in advance. Only photographs from the current year - that is, taken from 1.10.2022 - 30.9.2023 - may be submitted. See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Reportage (single/series)

Reportage photos describe and display reality on the basis of specific facts acquired through direct participation in, or observation of, a given event. Here the photographer has had the opportunity to prepare for the event in advance. Only photographs from the current year - that is, taken from 1. 10. 2022 - 30. 9. 2023 - may be submitted. See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019,

Daily life (single / series)

Photographs that capture everyday activities. In this category, series that stretch beyond one year may be submitted – photographs may have been taken from 30.9.2022, but at least one photograph must have been taken from 1.10.2022 to 30.9.2023, provided that the same photographs have not already been entered in the competition in previous years. See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

People in the news (single / series)

Reportage photographs capturing people who play an important role in media news coverage. Only photographs from the current year – i.e. taken between 01.10.2022 and 30.09.2023 – can be sent. 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Art and Culture (single / series)

A reportage or document from an artistic environment. Human interaction in the cultural environment. Art is the subject-matter of the photograph(s) - i.e. not artistic photography. In this category, series that stretch beyond one year may be submitted – photographs may have been taken from 30.9.2021, but at least one photograph must have been taken from 1.10.2022 to 30.9.2023, provided that the same photographs have not already been entered in the competition in previous years. See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Sports (single / series)

CPP sports photos depict sports at every level from amateurs to the very top. Action. Adrenaline. Pro and amateur sports. Only photographs from the current year - that is, taken from 1. 10. 2022 - 30. 9. 2023 - may be submitted. See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Portrait (single / series)

Portraits for cover pages, interviews, reportage and stylised portraits. Only photographs from the current year - that is, taken from 1. 10. 2022 - 30. 9. 2023 - may be submitted. See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Humans and the environment (single/series)

This category reflects the impact of humans on the environment. A separate competition, Czech Nature Photo, deals with wildlife photography. In this category, series that stretch beyond one year may be submitted – photographs may have been taken from 30. 9. 2021, but at least one photograph must have been taken from 1. 10. 2022 to 30. 9. 2023, provided that the same photographs have not already been entered in the competition in previous years. See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Grant of Prague mayor

Transformations of Prague - series

Works applying for the CPP 2023 Prague Grant, an annual creative scholarship announced by the Mayor of Prague. To apply for the Prague Grant, it is necessary to send an explanation marked with the ID to cp@czechphoto.org and upload a set of finished photographs to the eContest system, representing the concept of the series and the theme the author intends to explore next year. The photographs can be from an older date if they haven't been submitted to the Czech Press Photo competition in the past, but at least one photograph must be taken after October 1, 2022. Learn more about the history of winners in the Prague Grant category: the Prague Grant winners history.

Photographs will be accepted in electronic form. The entry fee from participants will be used for printing exhibition photographs. The jury has the right to request RAW data from authors for subsequent printing in higher resolution.

Czech Photo Junior

We focus on the younger generation that grows up with photography, or rather among a plethora of photographs. Therefore, the Czech Photo Junior competition was created, running in parallel with the Czech Press Photo competition. Young photographers compete in three age categories:

Younger pupils – 6 - 10 years
Older pupils – 11 - 15 years
High school students – 15 years and above

Individuals under 18 years of age can participate in the Czech Press Photo competition only with the written consent of their legal representative, available here in .docx format in CZECH.. It is the participant's obligation to submit the consent of the legal representative of Czech Photo o.p.s., which should be sent to the email junior@czechphoto.org. If the participant fails to submit the written consent of the legal representative within 5 days from the day of the request, Czech Photo o.p.s. has the right to exclude the participant from the Czech Press Photo competition without compensation.

Young photographers can submit photographs to the competition until the closing date of September 30, 2023, and participation in the Czech Photo Junior competition is FREE.

Entries meeting the conditions of individual categories listed in Czech Press Photo will be accepted without the obligation to specify the purpose for media:

1. Spot news
2. Reportage
3. Daily life
4. People in the news
5. Art and Culture
6. Sport
7. Portrait
8. Humans and the environment

The technique used to take the photographs (mobile phones, cameras) does not matter.

Images generated by artificial intelligence will be excluded from the competition.

The minimum image size is 1MB. The maximum number of works for one junior author is 10, with a series counted as one work. The maximum number of photographs in a series is 9. An author can submit only 2 series. Photographs with the author's name and age, title of the image, and category designation should be submitted through the judging system Cewe.

The evaluation of the best works will take place alongside the professional Czech Press Photo competition by an expert jury.

In each of the Czech Photo Junior competition categories, nominations for winners will be announced after the jury's deliberation. The international jury will determine the winner of each category and subsequently the 2nd and 3rd places. All winners of individual categories will receive a smart phone from Samsung and a diploma. The 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a diploma and prizes from partners Fomei and Cewe. The awards will be announced and presented at a ceremonial event together with the winners of the Czech Press Photo competition at the National Museum.

By entering the competition, participants declare themselves as the authors of the photographs. For submitted images, participants grant Czech Photo unlimited use of high-resolution images for activities across all media, including social media, online and print, related to the competition, exhibition, yearbook, public archive, and all promotional and educational activities of Czech Photo and under its patronage, without any obligation for payment.

The conditions set forth in the Rules of Participation are binding, and Czech Photo reserves the right to reject or exclude any entry at its own discretion.

Partners of Czech Photo Junior are Samsung, Cewe, and Fomei.

Signing up for the Competition

Photos will be accepted in electronic form. The entry fees sent by the competitors will be used to pay for printing the competition’s exhibition photographs. The jury has the right to request photographers’ data in RAW format and in high resolution for final printing. The authors of the photographs that are selected for the exhibition will be informed and will be given the opportunity to monitor their photos’ printing.

Competition dates

Announcement: September 1, 2023,
Competition Opening: September 1, 2023
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Jury: October 12-14, 2023
Nominations Announcement: November 1, 2023
Award Ceremony: December 2023/January 2024 (subject to change) at the National Museum building.
The Czech Press Photo 2023 exhibition will be open to the public from December 2023/January 2024 (subject to change).

Applications will be accepted only electronically and can be uploaded starting from September 1, 2023.
The photographer must demonstrate their professionalism through one of the following points:

• A press card
or
• member of an association such as APF (The Czech Association of Professional Photographers), Klub sportovních novinářů (The Czech Sports Photographers’ Club), etc.
or
• Employer – media house or agency,
or
• Letter of recommendation from a cooperating editorial board
or
• A precise description of the medium for which the photo was taken
or
• A scan showing where the photo was published
or
• A trade certificate
or
• For students: confirmation of studies at a school of photography or other relevant school

Entry fee: 1,200 CZK / 50 EUR. Students up to 23 years of age, inclusive, are exempt from the entry fee.

If the photographs do not meet the specified criteria, the organizer or the jury has the right to exclude them from the competition.
The expert jury selects nominations in each category and has the right not to award a prize or nomination.
Nominations will be announced after the jury's deliberation.

AWARDS

Taxation of prizes won in the Czech Press Photo competition: The amount of the prize exceeding 10,000 CZK is stated as the pre-tax amount, which is subject to the relevant laws of the Czech Republic. For non-monetary prizes, this amount is meant to represent the customary value of the goods, also pre-tax. Prizes up to 10,000 CZK are exempt from taxation.

2023 CZECH PRESS PHOTO OF THE YEAR

The "Photograph of the Year" title is the main prize of the competition. It will be awarded to the photograph that the international jury evaluates most highly in terms of journalistic qualities (timeliness, informativeness, expressiveness, readiness), possesses an excellent aesthetic level, and symbolizes a significant theme of the year. The winner of the award will receive a cash prize of 100,000 CZK, a diploma, and a sculpture by David Černý. The prize will be disbursed no later than March 31, 2024, after the necessary details for the bank transfer have been provided.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010.

Prizes in competition categories

In each of the competition categories, nominations for winners in all categories will be announced after the jury's deliberation. The international jury will determine the winner of the category and subsequently the 2nd and 3rd places. All winners of individual categories will receive 10,000 CZK and a diploma, while the 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a diploma. The prizes will be disbursed no later than March 31, 2024, after the necessary details for the bank transfer have been provided. The awards will be announced and presented at the ceremonial event held at the National Museum in January 2023.

See the winning pictures from the last years: past years.

Prague Grant Czech Press Photo 2023

The annual creative scholarship awarded by the Prague City Hall for photographing the transformations of the capital city is personally presented by the Mayor of Prague to a participant in the competition whose work, presented in the competition, and a demonstration of the project outlined in the competition application, provide the greatest assurances of a professional approach to the given project. The scholarship amounts to 100,000 CZK. The holder's obligation is to submit two sets of thirty best photographs to the Prague City Hall after a year of work, for archival and exhibition purposes. Applications for the Prague Grant must be submitted along with an explanation (maximum length of one standard page) and a set of finished photographs representing the concept of the series the author intends to systematically pursue. The prize will be disbursed by December 31, 2023.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

CANON JUNIOR AWARD

An award for the Discovery of the Year in the field of photography, for a young author up to 23 years old across all categories. Canon offers the winner a prize worth 30,000 CZK.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Czech News Agency (ČTK) Award

Is awarded as part of the Czech Press Photo competition to news photography that has exceptional journalistic qualities - topicality, instancy, and resonance. Rewarded with a placement at ČTK (photographic news reporting or photo bank) for a photographer under the age of 26.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019,

UNHCR Award (UN Refugee Agency)

The award from the UN Refugee Agency is given to a photograph or a series of photographs from the Czech Republic or abroad that capture the destinies of people forced to leave their homes due to war conflicts and persecution. The winner of the award receives 25,000 CZK.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

PICTOART Award

The award from the professional laboratory PICTOART, worth 25,000 CZK, is intended for the production and adjustment of a separate exhibition collection of the holder of the Prague Grant Czech Press Photo 2023 at PICTOART laboratories.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

The SAMSUNG Award

"A special award given within the categories of portrait, art and culture, or sports in the Czech Press Photo competition. The award is selected by representatives of Samsung from a preselection made by the international expert jury. The winner receives a diploma and a material prize in the form of The Frame Lifestyle TV from Samsung." View the winning images from the latest edition.

THE CHILDREN’S AWARD

Will be awarded to the photograph given the highest number of votes by a panel of child judges put together by Czech Radio.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation “My Life with a Handicap” AWARD

The prize is awarded to a photograph or series of photographs from the Czech Republic which show(s) the specific life conditions of persons with sensory, physical, or mental disability, or of people who are at risk of social exclusion. The winner will receive prize of CZK 20,000.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.

The Czech Radio Radiožurnál Award of the Czech Press Photo

The Czech Radio Radiožurnál Award of the Czech Press Photo competition is given to the most powerful photograph or series of photographs taken in a location of armed conflict, significant natural disaster, social unrest, or crisis situation. The recipient receives 20,000 CZK and a digital DAB+ radio.

Cena Diváků

VISITORS AWARD

Awarded to the photograph which receives the highest number of votes in a poll of visitors to the exhibition in Prague.

See the winning pictures from the last years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

RULES

Czech and Slovak photographers and photographers permanently resident in the Czech or Slovak Republics can participate in the contest with work produced for publication in the media during the period:
A maximum of ten individual works (where one photographic series is considered one work) may be entered in the contest. A photographic series may contain a maximum of 9 thematically-related pictures.

The photographer must demonstrate his/her professional status by way of one of the following:

1. Press card
3. Membership in associations (e.g., APF, Sports Journalists' Club)
4. Employment by a media house or agency
5. Business license for photographic services
6. Letter of recommendation from a collaborating publication
7. Scan of any published photograph in the media
8. Confirmation of enrollment at a photography or specialized school for students

1. The organizer reserves the right to request additional information to clarify professional status.
2. Co-authors are permitted (if multiple creators produce a photograph). Each co-author must provide proof of their professional status.
3. Photographers must be the sole author(s) of the submitted images.
4. The photographer(s), or an agent or representative acting on their behalf, must be the exclusive holder(s) of the copyrights or be authorized in writing to submit the photographs.
5. Photographs may only be submitted once, either as individual images, part of a story, or as part of a long-term project. Photographs submitted more than once will be disqualified from the competition.
6. Photographs can be submitted regardless of whether they have been published.
7. Winning photographs will be used for the preparation of exhibitions, catalogs, and books, and by submitting an application, photographers agree to this unlimited, royalty-free license for such use.
8. Photographs must meet the following specifications:
• JPG (High quality)
• TIFF (LZW or ZIP compression) - max file size 200 MB per file
• Files must be in RGB color space and contain ICC Profile
• Preferred for color photographs: AdobeRGB, ProPhoto, sRGB
• Preferred for black and white photographs: Dot Gain 20%, Gamma 2.2
• Photographs without a profile will be displayed and printed as if they had an sRGB profile
• Photograph resolution must be a minimum of 3000 pixels on the longer side
9. Author names, co-author names, agency names, publisher names, or any other identifying information must not appear on the photographs themselves. Such details can be included in the image metadata but must not appear on the photograph.
10. All photographs must have accurate captions in both Czech and English, following the provided guidelines. The maximum length for a caption is 250 characters.
11. Only single exposures and single photographs are accepted. The following are not accepted:
• Multiple exposures, polyptychs (diptychs, triptychs, etc.)
• Composite scenes created by camera or image processing software
12. 14. The content of the photograph must not be altered by adding, rearranging, reversing, distorting, or removing people and/or objects from the shot.
13. The use of artificial intelligence to generate images is not allowed. Any usage of AI, except for minor post-production adjustments that do not impact the essence of the photograph, will result in disqualification and a ban from future Czech Press Photo editions.
14. Entries must be submitted through the official competition platform. Entries sent by other means will not be accepted.
15. Copyright holders retain all copyright to their works. For awarded photographs, the copyright holders provide Czech Photo with an irrevocable, royalty-free license to use high-resolution images for all media uses, including social media, online, printed materials, exhibitions, archives, and promotional and educational activities conducted by Czech Photo, without restrictions on the number of uses, method of use, or territory, throughout the entire duration of copyright protection, free of charge.
16. Copyright holders declare and guarantee that the submission of photographs does not constitute a violation of any rights, and furthermore, no third party can assert any claims or objections related to the rights granted to Czech Photo. Copyright holders release Czech Photo from any claims by third parties related to the photographs submitted to the competition. In the event of the untruthfulness of such a declaration, copyright holders are obligated to compensate or release Czech Photo from any claims if any rights are asserted against it in connection with the awarded photograph.
17. Participation rules and any disputes, proceedings, or claims of any nature arising from or related to the participation rules (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by Czech law.
18. The conditions specified in the participation rules are binding, and Czech Photo reserves the right to change or modify them at any time, as well as the right to reject or exclude any submission at its sole discretion.

Jury, Results Announcement, and Exhibition:

1. The journalistic value of the images (informativeness, immediacy, topicality) will be assessed along with their aesthetic value.
2. The jury acts independently from the management of the company; sponsors and partners have no influence on the decision-making process.
3. All submitted works are judged anonymously.
4. The jury must award the Photograph of the Year prize.
5. The jury is not obligated to award all prizes in each category.
6. Results – the nominated images for the Czech Press Photo 2023 competition will be announced on November 1, 2023.
7. After the results announcement, nominated authors and authors of selected images for the exhibition may be asked to provide the images in maximum quality.
8. The final winners will be announced at the official award ceremony in early December at the National Museum.
9. Awarded and other selected works will be exhibited at the Czech Press Photo 2023 exhibition at the National Museum in Prague.
10. Unclaimed prizes until March 31, 2024, become the property of the competition organizer.