On December 4 awards of the 20th anniversary Tadas Dambrauskas Lithuanian Armed Forces in Photography 2024 Contest took place at Lukiškės Prison 2.0. The winners were recognized and an exposition of over 50 best pictures taken of the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ life this year was opened. The display will be open for the public in the venue until January 2, 2025. The Contest named in the honor of a legendary photographer of the Lithuanian Armed Forces shows the Lithuanian military across the different situations: exercises and celebrations, sentiment, training, attaining their goals, and generally, the realistic depiction of what a military walk of life really is like.
“It is wonderful that the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Photography Contest has been appreciated by the photographic community and known by the society of Lithuania for 20 years now. It has become a tradition memorializing stages of development in the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the National Defence System, growth of NATO forces in strength and sophistication. Accept my gratitude for your contribution to national defence though your creativity and art,” said acting Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas congratulating the participants.
Winner of three awards professional photographer Vakaris Mičiūnas was frank that he drew dedication and courage from T. Dambrauskas, features on high demand in a military photographer. “T. Dambrauskas was and is an excellent role model photographer. He was known not just for his daring ideas but also what he would do for the perfect shot,” said V. Mičiūnas. The servicemember was awarded the second place in the category of Military Portrait and special prizes of the Minister of National Defence and Lukiškės Prison 2.0.
“It is important to us as the military that we can see, feel and remember what these pictures depict, therefore, it was not an easy selection, however, an interesting and dynamic one. We were looking for balance between the military profession and the artistic value of the photographs. I am glad that none of the participants shied away from risks nor new ideas, exactly like the dream our revered Tadas harbored,” said Head of the Jury Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras. The Jury picked winners in four categories: Military Portrait, Action, Public and Military Events, Military Routine, Equipment and Weaponry. Contest Prtners established special prizes and awarded their picks as well.
The Chief of Defence Trophy was awarded to Arnas Čemerka who underlined emotion as the most important component of a photographic image to him. “It is a reflection of the interior of any human. On the verge, the core of humanity comes through more than ever. This is what I like about military photography,” said A. Čemerka who also won third places in the categories of Military Portrait and Equipment and Weaponry.
Justinas Stacevičius, a first-time participant, is frank it is always interesting to see what you can do on different sides. “For around 15 years I’ve been telling the society stories through photography as a photojournalist,” said J. Stacevičius who won the first place in the category of Military Portrait.
