On 8 December, we announced the names of the laureates of the Camera Jagellonica photographic competition organised for the first time and addressed to students, graduates and employees of Jagiellonian University. The aim of the competition is to integrate the academic community, bring the history of the university closer to the public and highlight its current achievements.

The authors of the best photographs were announced at the opening of the honoured works, which took place at Jagiellonian University's Student Zone located in the building of the Collegium Kołłątaja on St. Anne's Street.

A total of 130 works were submitted for the competition held in four categories. A Special Award of Jagiellonian University Rector was also granted. Given the high standard of the works, JU Rector, Professor Wojciech Nowak, decided to present not one, but two equal awards, to Anna Kotlińska and Róża Ludwikowska. On behalf of the Rector, the awards were presented by Professor Jacek Popiel, JU Vice-Rector for Human Resources and Financial Management.

‘The standard of the first edition of the competition was exceptionally high. This is a truly valuable initiative, which brings together the entire academic community of our university,’ said Professor Jacek Popiel. A great variety of works were submitted, showing our university from many different perspectives - from everyday life, through important academic events, to architecture - added the Vice-Rector.

The jury of the Camera Jagellonica competition, which was composed of: Sylwia Łęcka (photographer, academic teacher at Jagiellonian University), Tomasz Wiech (photographer, World Press Photo laureate), Szymon Szcześniak (lecturer at the Academy of Photography, Golden Eagle laureate) and Rita Pagacz-Moczarska (editor-in-chief of the ‘Alma Mater’ magazine), decided that the awards would go to:

in the ‘Architecture’ category

won Paweł Dobrowolski (first distinction - Jakub Płoszaj, second distinction - Katarzyna Żabicka);

in the ‘Student life’ category

the best photograph was taken by Anna Karaś, who also received the ‘Cafe Nauka’ Award from the editors of the nauka.uj.edu.pl portal. Distinctions in this category were awarded to Paweł Dobrowolski and Zuzanna Rucińska;

in the ‘Impression’ category

the laureate was Michał Walasz (first distinction went to Katarzyna Zięba, second distinction to Justyna Wydra);

in the ‘Event’ category

the award went to Piotr Marecki, with distinctions going to Marcin Czarnowicz and Dominika Giza.
 

When presenting the awards, jury member Sylwia Łęcka pointed out that she was amazed by the diversity of the works and the sharp and watchful eye of the photographers. Meanwhile, editor Rita Pagacz-Moczarska declared that the forthcoming issues of the ‘Alma Mater’ magazine will publish the competition works – and not only those which have won awards and distinctions.

When asked about the circumstances under which the photo was taken, Anna Kotlinska, one of the laureates of Jagiellonian University's Rector's Special Award, explained that it was taken in 2016 while vacationing in Hawaii. The shot was taken at the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano, which stands 4205 metres above sea level. During the same trip, the award holder and also PhD student at the JU Faculty of Health Sciences also visited the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Mothers' Milk bank, as this corresponds with her research interests.

Link to the photo gallery