Ave Kruusel wins the urban wildlife photography contest "Wild City" 2023

Ave Kruusel's "Traffic Controllers" won the Nature Festival's urban wildlife photography contest "Wild City" this year. Christina Veebel's photo "This sign is mine" was chosen as the best work in the children and youth category. 

The "Wild City" photo contest, which has become a tradition, invites you to notice nature and brings you a selection of images of nature in the city. Entries were accepted from 27 March to 7 May. This year, 120 entries were received, 15 of which were photos taken by children and youngsters. A third category was added to the competition, the nature observation category, which aims to capture a living organism clearly and recognisably. The nature observation category attracted 14 entries. 

The Estonian professionals select and award the best urban nature photos (Piret Eensoo, Rene Jakobson, Kaisa Keizars-Aron, Ingmar Muusikus, Kerttu Taggo, and Urmas Tartes). The participants can use a camera or a smartphone. Moreover, works made throughout the year can be submitted to the photo contest. "Compared to last year, there were better moments this year. Some of the images were somehow familiar from last year, such as the fox picture, but it's always interesting to look at the work and evaluate it," said jury member Kerttu Taggo. 

Winning author Ave Kruusel recalls: "By July, the young fox cubs have grown so big that the fox mare is already taking them further afield to explore the world. The urban animal also has to familiarise itself with traffic and asphalt." Urmas Tartes, a member of the jury, said. The first level shows how wild animals have come to the city. The second level is humorous: a family of foxes crossing the road and not very far from the crossing." 

Christina Veebel's photo "This sign is mine" was awarded the best work in the Children and Youth category. "The grapevine has taken a road sign as a base to grow over in the urban environment. How long this symbiosis will last depends on the sign's caretakers," said Urmas Tartes. 

The 20 best entries will be on display until the end of the summer next to the University of Tartu Botanical Garden's Rose Garden. Photopoint, Fotografiska, Teater Vanemuine, Viru Folk, Eesti Loodusfoto, Salibar, Maheseemned.ee, Ajakiri Looduses, Huggy, Natty, MTÜ Loodusajakiri, Kommipomm, RMK, Tallinna Loomaaed, Pernova Loodusmaja, Wösel, Loodusemees, Kino Sõprus, Eestimaa Looduse Fond, Pesapaik, Kadarbiku and University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden contributed to the winners' gift bags. 

Winning entries in the adult category: 

 1st place - Ave Kruusel "Traffic Controllers" 

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2nd place - Raigo Tõnisalu "Swans under the full moon" 

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3rd place - Kristi Kuuse "Dancing in a deserted city" 

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Winning entries in the children and youth category:  

1st place - Christina Veebel "This sign is mine" 

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2nd place - Georg Andre Põldpaju "Nest" 

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3rd place - Kerla Kalm "Home meadow" 

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The winning entry in the nature observation category:  

Merike Valdlo "Maybe no one will notice me (brown rat)" 

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Congratulations to the winners!   

You can browse the winning entries on the competition website. 

The "Wild City" photo contest is part of the Nature Festival programme, which this year took place from 7-11 June 2023. The Nature Festival is organised by the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden in cooperation with partners. The Nature Festival is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme.