He made his first photographs during the time he was studying to become an engineer in the 50s. These were photographs of rehearsals and stage productions at a theatre in Prague and socio-photographs of gypsies. Then, in 1967 he gave up his entire career as an engineer to become a full-time photographer. 1967 was not only important because of this decision but it was the year when his famous photograph, the one chosen for the course, the ‘Angel on Bicycle’ was taken. The following year, Koudelka photographed the Soviet invasion of Prague, publishing his photographs under the initials P. P. (Prague Photographer) for fear of reprisals to him and his family. In 1969, he was anonymously awarded the Robert Capa Gold Medal for those photographs.