The equestrian sport has many faces, tells fascinating stories and arouses big emotions. This once again became clear on Saturday evening during the award ceremony of the “Silver Camera”, when the best horse photo of the year was honoured.

What distinguishes a good photo? The motif? The technical quality? The atmosphere? A star-studded jury have to answer this question every year. Because the organisers of the CHIO Aachen, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV), traditionally confer the “Silver Camera” for the best international equestrian sport photo of the year. 130 photographs had been submitted, but only one could win. This year the Swedish dressage rider, Patrick Kittel, last year’s winner Rebecca Thamm, Julia Tran (Chief Operations Officer Mediahuis Aachen GmbH) and the ALRV Board Member, Birgit Rosenberg were responsible for selecting the winner and the runners-up. “The quality of the photos is excellent, the motifs are very diversified, which made our decision very difficult,” Birgit Rosenberg reported. Ultimately, the entry from the photographer from Aachen, Andreas Steindl, convinced the star-studded jury. His photo that captured an exceptional moment during the CHIO Aachen 2024, which stood out from among the submitted entries because of the perfect interplay between the motif, the perspective and technology. Second place went to the photographer from Korschenbroich, Jasmin Metzner, who had shot a photo of an intimate moment during the prize-giving ceremony of the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen 2024. The Dutch photographer, Jacob Melissen, came third. His photo shows an unusual scene from the eventing discipline.

The “Silver Camera” is awarded by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein and was initiated by the artist, Wolfgang Lamché. The prize was presented on Saturday evening by the ALRV Supervisory Board member, Peter Weinberg. First place is endowed with prize money to the value of 2,500 Euros, second place wins 1,000 Euros and third place 500 Euros.