While forests are increasingly celebrated for their importance, grasslands deserve equal attention. Far from being mere empty expanses, natural grasslands are indispensable ecosystems. Their remarkable biodiversity, water retention capacity and soil protection functions make them critical allies in the fight against climate change.
An outstanding photograph is conceived in the mind long before it is captured in the field. This philosophy is closely associated with Dr Zsolt Kalotás, wildlife photographer, founding member and first president of the Hungarian Nature Photographers’ Association (naturArt). In addition to serving as a juror for the Secrets of Grasslands photography competition, he is the recipient of numerous awards and honours. More than 8,500 of his nature photographs have been published in books, conservation magazines, specialist journals and environmental publications. We asked him about the competition, in which the fifth round challenges entrants to present the beauty and diversity of grasslands from a broader perspective.
The fifth round of Secrets of the Grasslands, a nature photography competition, aims to draw attention to the beauty and diversity of grassland ecosystems. In this year’s edition, one of the challenges set for entrants is landscape photography.
The fifth round of “The Secrets of Grasslands” photo contest draws attention to the beauty and diversity of grasslands. In the landscape category, participants are invited to present the charm and rich variety of grasslands from a broader perspective. A separate category was announced for showcasing the seasonal transformations of grassland habitats. We spoke with Bertalan Balczó, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural engineer, and chair of the jury, about the themes of the contest and the role of grassland protection, which lies at its core.
Until the beginning of the last century, when the mechanization of mowing did not begin, it was a slow-paced work process that was done with hand tools and human power. The harvest progressed slowly, in a larger area it could take up to weeks, so freshly mowed, unmowed, and re-sprouted patches were created to varying degrees, creating the most favorable mosaic.