The Ministry of National Defence opens the traditional Tadas Dambrauskas Photography Contest “Lithuanian Armed Forces in Photography 2032” held in memory of combat photographer and cameraman Tadas Dambrauskas. This is the 19th iteration since the beginning of the Contest.
All professional and amateur photographers who had the chance to take photographs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, NATO personnel and equipment in Lithuania are invited to look through the pictures taken this year and in the end of last year and submit the best for the Contest. An important criterion for the pictures is reflection of military life: servicemembers on combat tasks, in exercises and feasts, interacting together and in community engagement events, facing daily challenges and experiences, using Lithuanian and Allied forces’ equipment, etc.
The submitted photographs will be assessed in four categories this year:
Category I – Portrait of a Servicemember;
Category II – tactical action: exercises, missions, combat tasks, etc.
Category III – military celebration and routine: Armed Forces festivals, events, ceremonies and/or routine life, like pastime, resting, housekeeping;
Category IV – equipment and weaponry: progress of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, modernization, equipment and weaponry capabilities
The Contest Jury will select winners of each category who will split (as defined in Terms and Conditions of the Contest) the 5,200 Euro prize fund the Ministry of National Defence has allotted for the Contest this year. The Jury will also pick the best most “Entertaining Shot”. As customary, one image will also receive the Chief of Defence Trophy. Different sponsors will also give prizes to their favourites.
Exposition of the best photographs will be opened and best photographers awarded in Vilnius in late 2023 at an event at Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. As always, the best photographs will be published in a Contest catalogue.
Photograph submission is open until August 15 via e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]
Detailed information about Contest terms and conditions and registration and submission procedure can be found on the MoD website.
About combat camera and photographer Tadas Dambrauskas
The Contest is named after combat photographer and camera Tadas Dambrauskas in tribute to his memory and achievements. Tadas Dambrauskas started working with the National Defence Department in 1990 and soon was appointed as instructor-supervisor of Vilnius Task Force. Later he was a staff photographer with Karys magazine and cameraman with the Ministry of National Defence and the Iron Wolf Brigade. He was compiling a unique archive of photographs and video material while recording the evolution of the Lithuanian Armed Forces from “green-bands” of the Liberation Movement to a modern armed force. T. Dambrauskas did not shy away from risk and unexpected choices in his work, ready to break any ice for a good shot. He was the first and only one to shoot paratroopers while tied to an aircraft wing, he would regularly go to difficult marches together with the military and he recorded Lithuania’s first international deployments to the Balkan Region and Afghanistan.
More information on the Contest: [email protected] ; [email protected]
