June 18, award ceremony of Tadas Dambrauskas' Photography Contest „Lithuanian Armed Forces in Photography 2008-2009" will take place in Arkos Art Gallery.
87 professional photographers of Lithuanian press submitted their works for the jury of the contest along with amateurs, military and civilians, and foreign photography artists. Pictures taken in 2008-2009 were divided into two subcategories - professional and amateur. Around 800 pictures were presented for the contest.
During the ceremony winners of professional and amateur categories will be announced and awarded together with a winner photo selected by visitors of Arkos Art Gallery. Certificates and prizes will be given for the winners of the contest by the Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė, the special prize of the contest will be awarded by the Chief o Defence Lt. Gen. Valdas Tutkus.
A jury of five renown photography figures judged the works provided. Member of the jury and winner of the Lithuanian National Art and Culture Award Stanislovas Žvirgždas said he could confidently state that yearly Tadas Dambrauskas' Photography Contest perfectly reflects everyday and holidays in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and a demanding soldier's duty both in Lithuania and on international deployments.
According to a NATO contract photographer Walter Vanderhaegen - jury member of the contest - this year material provided for evaluation surpassed last year's material in quality. „ The resulting book of this contest is rapidly becoming a collectors' item for photography afficionados," the Belgian photographer said.
A new nomination was established this year to mark the 5th anniversary of Lithuania's membership in NATO and the 20th anniversary of the Baltic Chain - the most interesting and unique pictures were awarded in the category „Travelling from „greenbands" of the Liberation Movement to NATO. 1988 - 2004." 131 pictures were presented for the category.
„It is my strong belief that those several hundreds of photographic images provided for the contest will help us, and especially our children, to find a deeper understanding of the complicated way of establishing Lithuanian independence, as well as to recognise people who had sacrificed their lives for Lithuania's good, and to realise that memory of the people outdoes the slipping time," said Col. (R) Jonas Gečas who was invited to review photographs in the historical category.
Photography contest organised by the Ministry of National Defence was named for war photographer and combat camera Tadas Dambrauskas to give persistence to his memory and merits.
Exposition of Tadas Dambrauskas' Photography Contest will be on display in Arkos Art Gallery till June 30.
