History of a competitive exhibition of art photographs of the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš

The Speleophotography is an international competitive exhibition of photos on speleological themes. Its aim is to present uniqueness of underground world, speleologist’s work as well as forms of life in caves. By this manner photographs were firstly shown to public in the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in 1982. Till 1986 monochrome photos dominated. Development of photographic technique brought a new phenomenon – a digital photograph. Possibility of additional picture elaboration has started to offer new alternatives in creating the colour photos.

In the first years authors were awarded by financial prizes. The Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš have started to award material prizes since 1992 in cooperation with the Slovak Caves Administration since 1992, the International Speleological Union till 1992, the Slovak Speleological Society since 1985, the Town Liptovský Mikuláš since 1998, and the Slovak Photographers Association in 1982 ­ 2004. During the last two years the Janko Kráľ Museum in Liptovský Mikuláš contributed as well. It also provided an exhibition room because of reconstruction of a historical building of the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology realized as the project from structural funds of the European Union.

Till 1996 the event was financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic from the State Fund of Culture PRO SLOVAKIA. Issuing of the exhibition catalogue has been sponsored by Town Liptovský Mikuláš since 1998.

Besides many interesting photos of Slovak and foreign authors, the 16^th year of the Speleophotography was enriched by a photo cycle of authors from Indonesia. Their participation and awarding the Prize of Director of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology brought positive response of Indonesian authors as well as the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Jakarta, which also means widening the foreign cooperation in future years of the exhibition.

During the all previous years there were presented about 1,150 photos by authors from 18 countries (previous Czecho-Slovakia, the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Ukraine, Sweden, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Belgium, and Slovenia).

1982­the 1^st year; November 12, 1982 – date is missing

Themes (till 1986):

1. Research and documentation of karst phenomena

2. Discoveries of cave spaces

3. Speleological events

4. Sinter forms of caves

Organizer: Museum of Slovak Karst and Nature Protection in Liptovský Mikuláš (present Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology) in cooperation with International Speleological Union

Financial prizes: the 1^st – 400 Kčs, the 2^nd – 300 Kčs, the 3^rd – 100 Kčs, a special prize – 200 Kčs

A number of authors: 14 (Czecho-Slovakia)

A number of photos: 91

 

1983 – the 2^nd year; November 22 – December 11, 1983

Organizer: Museum of Slovak Karst and Nature Protection in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with International Speleological Union

Prizes: financial prizes, a special prize, honour prizes

A number of authors: 21 (Czecho-Slovakia)

A number of photos: 113

 

1984 – the 3^rd year; November 19 – December 18, 1984

Organizer: Museum of Slovak Karst and Nature Protection in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with International Speleological Union

Prizes: a main prize, honour prizes

A number of authors: 26 (Czecho-Slovakia 18, Italy 4, ZSSR 1, Hungary 1, Yugoslavia 1, Switzerland 1)

A number of photos: 152

 

1985 – the 4^th year; November 17 – December 18, 1985

Organizer: Museum of Slovak Karst and Nature Protection in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with International Speleological Union

Prizes: a main prize, a prize of the jury, honour prizes

A number of authors: 34 (Czecho-Slovakia 25, Hungary 5, DDR 1, Belgium 1, ZSSR 1, Italy 1)

A number of photos: 160

 

1986 – the 5^th year; November 15 – December 15. 1986

Organizer: Museum of Slovak Karst and Nature Protection in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with International Speleological Union

Prizes: a main prize, a prize of the jury, honour prizes

A number of authors: 17 (Czecho-Slovakia 13, Hungary 2, Belgium 1, Yugoslavia 1)

A number of photos: 42

 

1992 – the 6^th year; November – December 1992

Organizer: Museum of Nature Protection Development in Liptovský Mikuláš (present Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology) in cooperation with International Speleological Union, and Association of Slovak Photographers in Ružomberok

Financially supported by the State Fund of Culture PRO SLOVAKIA

Prizes: a main prize, honour prizes

A number of authors: 9 (the Slovak Republic 5, the Czech Republic 2, Austria 1, Luxembourg 1)

A number of photos: 33

Completed with photographs from previous years 1982 – 1986

 

1994 – the 7^th year; November 4 – 30, 1994

Organizer: Museum of Nature Protection Development in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, and Association of Slovak Photographers in Ružomberok

Financially supported by the State Fund of Culture PRO SLOVAKIA

Prizes: a main prize, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society

A number of authors: 19 (the Slovak Republic 11, the Czech Republic 5, Austria 1, Luxembourg 2)

A number of photos: 78

 

1996 – the 8^th year; December 4 – 31, 1996

Organizer: Museum of Nature Protection Development in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, and Association of Slovak Photographers in Ružomberok

Prizes: a main prize, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Association of Slovak Photographers

A number of authors: 11 (the Slovak Republic 5, the Czech Republic 3, Austria 1, Luxembourg 1, the Netherlands 1)

A number of photos: 52

 

1998 – the 9^th year; November 18 – December 4, 1998

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, Town Liptovský Mikuláš, and Association of Slovak Photographers in Ružomberok

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Association of Slovak Photographers, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš

A number of authors: 15 (the Slovak Republic 8, Hungary 3, Austria 3, Switzerland 1)

A number of photos: 48

 

2000 – the 10^th year; November 29 – December 13, 2000

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, Town Liptovský Mikuláš, and Association of Slovak Photographers in Ružomberok

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Association of Slovak Photographers, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš

A number of authors: 19 (the Slovak Republic 4, the Czech Republic 6, Bulgaria 1, the Netherlands 1, Germany 1, Poland 4, Austria 1, Switzerland 1)

A number of photos: 75

 

2002 – the 11^th year; December 5, 2002 – January 24, 2003

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, Town Liptovský Mikuláš, and Association of Slovak Photographers in Ružomberok

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Director of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Association of Slovak Photographers, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš, Prize of Mayor of Town Liptovský Mikuláš, honour awards

A number of authors: 19 (the Slovak Republic 8, the Czech Republic 2, Bulgaria 1, Poland 5, Austria 2, Slovenia 1)

A number of photos: 82

 

2004 – the 12^th year; November 3 – 22, 2004

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, Town Liptovský Mikuláš, and Association of Slovak Photographers in Ružomberok

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Director of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Association of Slovak Photographers, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš

A number of authors: 20 (the Slovak Republic 12, the Czech Republic 1, Poland 3, Hungary 1, Germany 1, Slovenia 1, Bulgaria 1)

A number of photos: 101

 

2006 – the 13^th year; December 15, 2006 – January 29, 2007

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, and Town Liptovský Mikuláš

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš, honour awards

A number of authors: 11 (the Slovak Republic 7, the Czech Republic 1, Hungary 1, Poland 2)

A number of photos: 37

Completed with awarded photographs from previous years

 

2008 – the 14^th year; November 5 – December 7, 2008

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, and Town Liptovský Mikuláš

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš

A number of authors: 9 (the Slovak Republic 4, the Czech Republic 5)

A number of photos: 54

 

2010 – the 15^th year; November 26, 2010 – February 28, 2011

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, Janko Kráľ Museum in Liptovský Mikuláš, and Town Liptovský Mikuláš

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Director of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš, Prize of Mayor of Town Liptovský Mikuláš, Prize of Janko Kráľ Museum

A number of authors: 13 (the Slovak Republic 7, the Czech Republic 3, Poland 1, Austria 2)

A number of photos: 53

 

2012 – the 16^th year; September 19 – November 11, 2012

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in Liptovský Mikuláš in cooperation with Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration in Liptovský Mikuláš, Janko Kráľ Museum in Liptovský Mikuláš, and Town Liptovský Mikuláš

Prizes: Prize of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Director of Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Prize of Slovak Speleological Society, Prize of Slovak Caves Administration, Prize of Town Liptovský Mikuláš, Prize of Janko Kráľ Museum, a special prize

A number of authors: 13 (the Slovak Republic 8, the Czech Republic 2, Indonesia 6, Germany 1)

A number of photos: 73

From the reason of the Museum building reconstruction the exhibition was realized in the Janko Kráľ Museum in Liptovský Mikuláš.

 

2014 – the 17th year; November 21, 2014 – January 31, 2015

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Slovak Speleological Society, Slovak Caves Administration and Town Liptovský Mikuláš

Prizes: Grand Prix of Speleofotografia 2014, 3 prizes in category Cave Beauty, 3 prizes in category Speleo Moment, Prize of social network

A number of authors: 81 (Austria: 1, Belgium: 2, Brazil: 2, Bulgaria: 1, Croatia: 1, Czech Republic: 7, England: 1, France: 1, Germany: 5, Hungary: 3, Indonesia: 11, Italy: 6, Poland: 5, Romania: 7, Russia: 3, Slovak Republic: 14, Slovenia: 2, Spain: 3, Ukraine:3, USA: 3)

A number of photos: 550

 

2016 – the 18th year; November 25, 2014 – January 31, 2015

Organizer: Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, Slovak Caves Administration, Slovak Speleological Society and Town Liptovský Mikuláš

Prizes: Grand Prix of Speleofotografia 2014, 3 prizes in category Cave Beauty, 3 prizes in category Speleo Moment, Prize of social network

A number of authors: 54 (Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1, Croatia: 1, Czech Republic: 7, England: 1, France: 2, Germany: 3, Hungary: 3, Indonesia: 1, Italy: 6, Poland: 4, Romania: 7, Russia: 1, Slovak Republic: 12, Slovenia: 2, Spain: 1, USA: 1)

A number of photos: 327