History

What began in 1999 as a bold idea has, over the years, grown into one of Europe’s most important nature photography competitions: Glanzlichter of Nature Photography. For more than a quarter of a century, this project was built, shaped, and tirelessly developed by Mara Fuhrmann and Udo Höcke with dedication and vision. Their eye for quality, organizational talent, and passion for nature photography have made Glanzlichter a fixture in the international photography scene.

The beginning was marked by idealism. The first judging in the summer of 1999 took place on a small scale — a gathering of enthusiasts, visionaries, and nature lovers with cameras. Back then, no one could have foreseen that this would become a project with international influence.

It soon became clear: Glanzlichter should not only be an award for outstanding nature photography but also a message to society. Exhibitions were developed, audiences sought — and found. Kloster Gorheim, Schloss Nymphenburg, Maria Laach — the list of venues where the images have been celebrated reads like an atlas of cultural landmarks.

At a time when photographs were still viewed on slides or in print — not digitally — the judging process was a logistical feat. Submissions from all over the world had to be carefully sorted and organized to avoid chaos.

With their own booth at Photokina 2002, Mara Fuhrmann and Udo Höcke stepped into the international photography spotlight. Amateurs and professionals, editors, conservationists, gallery owners — all met here, and Glanzlichter was at the heart of it all. It was nothing short of a breakthrough.

Soon after, Glanzlichter crossed Germany’s borders: An exhibition in Finland marked the beginning of an international tour that would eventually reach Italy, Ukraine, France, and many other countries. A German photography project had become a European cultural event.

Above all, the competition was always one thing: a platform for young talent and international diversity. With entries from over 40 countries each year, Glanzlichter demonstrates how unifying the theme of “nature” is — beyond borders, religions, or ideologies.

Even the pandemic couldn’t stop Glanzlichter. With creativity and responsibility, exhibitions were adapted, interviews were conducted at a distance — the dialogue with the public was maintained. A testament to the project’s resilience.

In 2024, a powerful new chapter begins in the Glanzlichter story: The competition has been passed on to younger, visionary hands. Lisa and Florian Smit now lead the project — with great respect for what has been and a bold view of what’s to come. Glanzlichter is not only to be preserved but further developed — bigger, more international, more visible. With fresh ideas and new energy, they continue what Mara Fuhrmann and Udo Höcke have passionately built. This is not the end — but the beginning of something new.

What Mara Fuhrmann and Udo Höcke created cannot be measured in numbers — even though millions have visited the exhibitions and countless images have been submitted. It is the cultural value that endures: the aesthetic documentation of our relationship with nature and our shared sense of wonder.

Glanzlichter has never been loud, but always clear. Never commercial, but always professional. Never superficial, but always profound. And it will continue to shine — in new hands, with the same radiance.