Renowned equestrian photography Hugo Milan Czerny passed away on Monday 14 November 2011 at age 86. Czerny was a prime equestrian photographer from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Hugo Czerny was born on 14 October 1925 in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia and grew up there. From 1938 to 1945 he lives in German district of Komotau, which is now part of the Czech Republic. Before the end of World War II, Czerny fled to Germany and joined the American Airforce II.
During duty he severely injured his knee which became a life-long issue.
Since 1971 Czerny was an equestrian photographer, living in Munich, Germany. He specialized in dressage, Three-Day Eventing, and Breeding photography. "On his dressage pictures the riders often looked better than they were," said Swiss photographer Elisabeth Weiland who was a long-time intimate friend of Czerny.
Czerny built up a photography treasure covering the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, 1976 Games in Montreal, 1984 Games in Los Angeles, the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stocholm and the 1994 WEG in The Hague. He also worked at the 1986 World Dressage Championship in Cedar Valley, Ontario, Canada, as well as several European Championships. Despite his high age, he continued to visit the CCI Badminton and CHIO Aachen until a few years ago.
"He was good-willed and had a great sense of humour. Hugo was a very special friend," said Weiland.
Hugo's ashes will be buried in the family grave in the Czech Republic.
Related Links
Eurodresssage Photodatabase: Hugo Czerny archive photos
Limandus, The Happy Athlete