Timber construction, geotechnical engineering and high-voltage engineering – the three winning entries in this year’s photography competition offer a glimpse into the diversity of research
Once a year, the Research Department selects the best photographs in the ‘Research Perspectives’ photography competition – images taken by researchers at HTWK Leipzig and FTZ Leipzig themselves during their day-to-day research work. These photographs thus provide an authentic insight into various research topics, locations and methods. Whether at a desk, in the laboratory or during field tests, the viewer can experience moments of research through the personal perspective of the researchers.
On 26 October 2026, the jury met and selected the best photographs based on criteria such as visual impact and aesthetics, technical quality, originality, clarity and authenticity.
The winning photographs for 2026 are:
First place
Title: Insights into Wood
Author: Benedikt Adrian, FLEX Institute
Cross-sections of old spruce ceiling beams reveal what would otherwise remain hidden inside: growth rings, the pith, knots and shrinkage cracks characterise the unique structure of each component. In his PhD project ‘PreloadTimber’, civil engineer Benedikt Adrian is investigating whether previous stresses can influence the load-bearing behaviour when the timber is reused. The aim is to establish the scientific basis for reusing existing timber components safely and to the highest possible standard, thereby keeping them in the material cycle for longer.
Second place
Title: Traffic Density on the A14
Author: Enrico Wendt, Institute of Geotechnical Engineering
For the new section of the A14 motorway near Stendal, the road substructure requires a particularly load-bearing foundation. Among other methods, dynamic impulse compaction was used for this purpose: heavy compaction equipment transmits powerful impulses into the ground, thereby compacting it.
As part of the ‘proVed’ research project, HTWK Leipzig, in collaboration with the company Terra-Mix, developed a method that directly measures, during this process, how well the ground has already been compacted. To this end, sensors were fitted to the compaction foot of the machine. They detect the slightest movements and deformations and provide immediate information on the progress of the compaction.
At the conclusion of the project, the method was successfully tested for the first time under real-world conditions on the new A14 motorway section – in some truly spectacular weather conditions, which were documented by Enrico Wendt, a research assistant at FTZ Leipzig.
Third place
Title: High Voltage and Deep Relaxation
Author: Trung Hoang Nguyen, Institute of Electrical Power Engineering
Between 380-kilovolt power lines and wildlife fences: whilst the technology in the background ensures maximum voltage, the researchers treat themselves to a moment’s rest. The photograph documents a field mission in the Hohenbellin area, during which the team from the Institute of Electrical Power Engineering pursued various research objectives: in addition to verifying the safety status of wildlife fences using the measurement technology visible in the picture – to ensure that, during normal operation, there is little to no voltage present – the researchers also took photographs of the 380-kilovolt grid for further processing as part of the ‘DUFLOR’ project.
The photograph, taken by research assistant Trung Hoang Nguyen, captures the recovery phase following these intensive measurements and recordings, and shows that physical exhaustion after a field mission is just as much a part of everyday research life as technical analysis. Pictured are the research assistants (from left) Johannes Braun, Trung Hoang Nguyen and Fabian Wießner.
The jury
This year’s photography competition jury comprised:
- Katrin Haase, Research Communications at HTWK Leipzig (Chair)
- Dr Franziska Böhl, Research Marketing at HTWK Leipzig
- Franka Platz, Press Officer at HTWK Leipzig
- Swen Reichhold, science photographer (https://swenreichhold.de)
Photo gallery: all entries
The other entries also showcase fascinating moments in research and a wide variety of topics. Many thanks to everyone for the brilliant photographs!
Submit a photo now
Once again this year, the Research Department is calling on all researchers at HTWK Leipzig to submit their personal photographic impressions. Submissions are now being accepted. Further information can be found here.
