The winning photo, taken by Slovak photographer Joe Klamar working for AFP, (photo: Joe Klamar. Czechpressphoto.cz)

The exhibition Czech Press Photo 2009 presenting 600 photographs is now open in the Cross Corridor and the Knight’s Hall of the Old Town Hall until 31st January 2010.The first prize – Crystal Eye – was awarded by Václav Klaus to the photographer Joe Klamar from the agency AFP for the photo of Barack Obama’s visit to Prague.

“A day before the event I had a proper look around the place, I planned the composition of the scene with its key players Obama, St Nicholas Church and Prague spreading out below them.

As an afterthought it occurred to me that it would be eloquent to get the sculpture of T. G. Masaryk in the picture as well, “explained J. Klamar.

Mayor Pavel Bém awarded the Grant of Prague to Milan Jaroš from the weekly publication Respekt for the project ‘What is the life of handicapped people in Prague like’. His series of pictures depicting autistic children goes beyond the scope of regular reporting due to its human dimension.

Apart from the award, Milan Jaroš also received a grant of CZK 120,000. In a year’s time, he is obliged to hand over two sets of copies of thirty of the best pictures for archival and exhibition purposes to the City Hall of Prague. Last year the grant was given to Martin Sidoriák.

• Staromĕstská radnice (Old Town Hall),
• Old Town Square, Prague 1
• www.czechpressphoto.cz