Results 2018

The best nature photograph this year was the image "Under the Ice" by Rostislav Štefánek, as decided by the international jury of the Czech Nature Photo competition. The jury chose from a total of nine categories. The winners were announced at a ceremony on 19 April at the Czech Photo Centre.

"The jury unanimously agreed that the photograph of the year "Under the Ice" combines a sense of artistic conception of photography and composition with excellent technical quality and impressiveness of the subject in an exceptional way," says Michal Krause, chairman of the Czech Nature Photo jury. According to the author, the winning photograph was a work of chance. It was taken during spring diving in the flooded quarry Výkleky near Přerov, which was almost entirely under ice. Thanks to their knowledge of the location, together with photographer Viktor Vrbovský, they went to the flooded tree where the lone pike was hiding."

See also the nominees for the 2018 winners.

The Mammals

Jiří Karbus

In the glass of the ocean. - A bottlenose dolphin swims beneath the surface of the perfectly calm ocean off the coast of the Canary Islands.

Birds (wild)

Martin Tomáš

Railway worker - I've been thinking of a night shot of the life of Czech titties at the train station for a long time. What's the owl railwayman signalling? The light is blue, which means no movement. Ústí region, Czech Republic.

Reptiles, amphibians and underwater life (wild)

Rostislav Štefánek

Under the Ice - In freezing winters, everything alive is hidden underwater and protected by a thick ice roof. Few creatures are active during this period. Among the hardy ones are the pike, which ruthlessly scour the ice for weak or sick fish.

Invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, molluscs and other wildlife)

František Dulík

Last fighter - The photo of the ant silhouette was taken early in the morning, when the light of the sunrise created a beautiful tobacco atmosphere in the background.

The Czech Forests

Josef Bosák

Misty morning in the Beskids.

The Czech Farmland and Rural Areas

Jana Mašterová

Combed land - Gracefully smoothed earth after autumn work.

Animals in human care

Roman Vodička

Slávek - One of the iconic animals of Prague Zoo is the hippopotamus Slávek. A photograph of him has been circulating around the world, when during a flood in 2002 he was trapped in the Large Mammal Pavilion and broke one of the windows while trying to get out. If you ask the keepers what will make him happy, they will say without hesitation, Chinese cabbage and water sprayed from a hose. At that moment he opens his huge mouth, opens his eyes and lets the stream of water massage his massive gums.

Wildlife in Prague - special category announced by the Prague City Council

Petr Kocourek

Swan queen - A foggy morning by the Vltava River on Prague's Janáček Embankment.

Best Photograph of Czech Wildlife and Countryside - special category, whose partner is the administration of the Krkonoše National Park

Václav Bystřický

Marsh frog - Spring is finally here! Czech Republic, Svojšín.

Czech Photo Junior Award

Oliver Josek

Greedy ogres - Swallows in the middle of May feeding their hungry necks.

Jakub Klíma

Reflection - Is it me...?

Mojmír Ševčík

Pelican - Breakfast on the water...

Czech Nature Photo Audience Award

Vladimír Čech

Peekaboo

Lidé a Země magazine Readers' Choice Award

Mojmír Ševčík

Pelican