Debrecen4U June 11, 2026

In Attenborough’s Footsteps: Best of More Than 600 Photos Exhibited at University of Debrecen

In tribute to Sir David Attenborough on the occasion of his 100th birthday, an exhibition has opened has opened at the University of Debrecen, featuring 25 photographs selected from more than 600 competition entries that showcase the beauty and fragility of nature.

The exhibition opened on Tuesday in the community space within the University and National Library of the University of Debrecen (1 Egyetem Square). Organised by the Institute of Biology and Ecology and the Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology of the Faculty of Science and Technology, the exhibition honours the achievements of Sir David Attenborough, who celebrated his centenary in May.

The display presents a selection of works submitted to the department’s photography competition. A total of 126 entrants submitted 602 photographs, from which 25 images were chosen for exhibition.

At the opening ceremony, Associate Professor Ádám Zoltán Lendvai spoke about how Attenborough introduced generations of viewers to the richness of life on Earth and, in the later stages of his career, increasingly focused on highlighting the vulnerability of the natural environment. He remarked that without the books and films of the world-renowned British naturalist, he himself would probably never have chosen a career in biology.

The aim of the photography competition was to use the medium of photography to draw attention not only to the beauty of nature, but also to the relationship between humanity and the environment and the importance of preserving natural values.

The entries were judged by Debrecen-born wildlife photographer Csaba Daróczi, Attila Szilágyi of the Hortobágy National Park, and wildlife photographer Gyula Péter Molnár.

Winners were announced in three categories:

• In the “People and Nature” category, Krisztina Szakolczai won first prize with her photograph The Old Fisherman.
• In “Nature’s Wonders”, the winning image was Mountain Peak by Tímea Ambrus.
• In the “Wild Animals” category, the jury selected The Tale of the Fox and the Sandpiper by Krisztina Szakolczai as the winning photograph.

The prize winners each received a book by Sir David Attenborough.

The exhibition remains open until mid-November in the community space of the University and National Library. The organisers also plan to make all submitted photographs available online at a later date.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Pixabay