Water magic in Prenzlau: Looking for your photos for the 2026 calendar!

Water magic in Prenzlau: Looking for your photos for the 2026 calendar!

Time is of the essence for all photo enthusiasts in the region! Creative minds can submit their best images on the topic of “Water in the City” for the 2026 Stadtwerke photo calendar until July 31st. Klara-Marie Zwerschke, responsible for communications at Stadtwerke Prenzlau, cordially calls on everyone to submit their fascinating views of bathing areas, fountains, boats, rivers and urban oases, such as the Igelpfuhl or the pond in the city park. The popular calendar has a long tradition and the proceeds from sales go to voluntary projects in the Uckermark. A print run of 800 copies is planned, which is expected to appear in November.

The submitted photographs will be selected by a jury consisting of representatives from the municipal utilities and the Uckermark Kurier. For people depicted, such as children, the photographers require the written consent of their legal guardians. “Regardless of whether it’s summer freshness or wintry water scenes, we look forward to pictures from all four seasons,” says Zwerschke.

Water-related competitions

But it's not just in Prenzlau that there are opportunities to creatively deal with the topic of water. The photo story competition “Water for Peace and Prosperity”, which runs until January 7, 2024, also offers a platform for photographers. This competition is organized by organizer Onewater in cooperation with the UNESCO World Water Assessment Program and is aimed at anyone who wants to document the relationship between water, peace and sustainable development. This topic is particularly important with regard to the UN World Water Development Report 2024, which will be presented in Paris on March 22, 2024.

The prices are impressive! The winners can look forward to cash prizes and publications on the Onewater website, accompanied by an exhibition in Paris. The first three places will be awarded EUR 500, EUR 300 and EUR 200, and there will also be 12 other prizes. The competition aims to not only shed light on the challenges associated with water, but also promote stories of human resilience and innovative approaches.

Water as a central commodity

Water is not only a precious commodity, but also an essential factor for the development of societies. The annual World Water Report published by UNESCO shows that 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water. The situation is particularly alarming in rural areas and the problems are becoming increasingly worse in cities. The 15 percent decline in development aid since 2015 is also a worrying trend.

In any case, around half of the world's population suffers from acute seasonal water shortages - a challenge that is exacerbated by climate change and geopolitical upheavals. Agriculture accounts for over two-thirds of global water use, highlighting the need for effective water management. This is the only way to ensure growth and prosperity in the areas of agriculture, energy and industry.

In this regard, competitions such as Onewater's and the municipal utilities' activities have the precision and vision to raise awareness of the importance of water in our daily lives, while providing incentives to engage creatively with this precious element.

For anyone who is curious: Further information about the competitions and the World Water Report can be found on the respective websites. Take the opportunity and make a statement for water!

Further details can be found here: Northern Courier, Photo competition list, and Global learning.