First place in the Federal Prize for Professional Photography 2023-Austria - Animal/Nature category

 Federal Award for Professional Photography:
 
 On 19 August, the Federal Guild of Professional Photographers once again honoured Austria's best photographers in eight different categories at Casino Baden.
 
 "19 August is the birthday of photography.

Exactly 184 years ago, photography was made public in Paris.

"Baden also creates a worthy setting for this highlight of our industry with La Gacilly, the most important European outdoor photography festival," emphasises Federal Guild Master Heinz Mitteregger.
 

 Renowned jury of national and international professional photographers

More than 4,800 entries landed on the table of the seven jurors from Austria (Horst Stasny, Georg Ott, Irene Ascher), Germany (Rolf Nachbar, Bernd Gassner), Sweden (Marie de Verdier Persson) and Finland (Tiina Haring). "The level increases from year to year and was very high again this year," says a pleased Horst Stasny, chairman of the jury. "Austria also gets very good marks in an international comparison."

The winners of the Best Professional Photographers 2023 at a glance

Commercial

1st Manuel Kokseder I 2nd Daniel Roos I 3rd Lizz Krobath

Illustration/Digital Art

1st Wolfgang Gangl I 2nd Lukas Kirchgasser I 3rd Mario Pernkopf

Nature/Landscape

1. Barbara Seiberl-Stark I 2. Torsten Mühlbacher I 3. Eldar Tinjic

Nature/Animal World

1. Manfred Hesch I 2. Caroline Porsche I 3. Barbara Seiberl-Stark

Creative Portrait/Fashion and Beauty

1. Wolfgang Gangl I 2. Michael Schnabl I 3. Christoph Hillinger

Natural Portrait - Human/Animal

1. Alisa Matern I Christian Stemper I Birgit Probst

Reportage

1. Sabine Doppelhofer I 2. Emanuel Schimpfössl I 3. Daniel Breuer

Wedding

1. Gerald Flor I 2. Michael Föls I 3. Mathias Brabetz
 

I was awarded with first place in the nature/animals catogory
 

A few thoughts from me
 It was a long way to get there and I invested a lot of time and energy in the last few years. Both in my training as a hunter and falconer, but also in photography, especially wildlife photography. It is precisely for these reasons that this award from the Federal Guild of Professional Photographers is very important to me.
 
 I spent countless hours in nature. Sometimes in wind, cold, rain, heat or snow. The time was not always rewarded with pictures. But they were always great and touching moments that made me grow a bit.

The drive was the passion and adventure in nature and the resulting experiences with the wild animals. A fire that was and is almost impossible to extinguish, even in the harshest conditions.

 Thanks to all who have accompanied me on my photographic journey so far!
 

New goals and new challenges are now forming in my head and who knows where my path will lead me. My first book is planned for next year and I'm also itching to make films. There are already a few good projects lying around in the drawer.

It remains exciting in any case and I'll be happy to tell you about it in my next news.