Tomaž Lanišek, EFIAP/g, MF FZS – Slovenia
Tomaž Lanišek, born in 1977, resides in Šenčur, Slovenia. After completing his secondary education at Gimnazija Kranj, he graduated in International Economics from the School of Economics and Business at the University of Ljubljana. In 2002, he earned an MBA from Drury University in Missouri, USA, and further enhanced his expertise by completing the Program for Executive Development and the Digital Business Excellence program at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.
His professional career includes serving as the CEO of Knauf Insulation in Slovenia and Croatia. Before joining Knauf Insulation, he gained extensive experience in purchasing, sales, and general management while working at Goodyear Dunlop Sava Tires. Currently, he is actively contributing to the field of urban innovation as the Smart City Manager for the City of Kranj, where he leads initiatives for successful digital transformation and green transition.
Throughout his professional career, he has remained deeply devoted to photography. His journey into the art form began in his early years under the guidance of his father. Actively pursuing photography since 1996, he achieved his first major recognition as a young student by winning an award at the ‘Landscape ’96’ exhibition for young photographers. Since then, he has participated in photographic exhibitions across more than 40 countries worldwide, earning over 150 prestigious awards.
During this time, he has also held several solo exhibitions, including one of his most celebrated showcases in Springfield, MO, USA. Additionally, he has shared his expertise by presenting his work at numerous photography workshops in the United States. He firmly believes in capturing extraordinary moments that transcend time, leaving a lasting impression and inspiring journeys through their timeless beauty.
He has been a member of the Photo Club Anton Azbe in Skofja Loka since 1997. He is the Master of Photography (MF FZS) of the Photographic Association of Slovenia since 2014. The International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) awarded Tomaz the EFIAP/g distinction (Excellence FIAP Gold). He has been a regular jury member at photography exhibitions both nationally and internationally for the past 15 years.
He is the President of the Photographic Association of Slovenia (FZS) for the 2023-2028 term.
Aleksandar Budjevac, EFIAP, MF FSS (Master Photo Association of Serbia) – Serbia
Aleksandar Budjevac, born in 1969. in Kragujevac, Serbia, where he lives and works as a judge in the High Court of Kragujevac. He has been actively involved in photography for over twenty years. Since 2013, he has been actively exhibiting photographs. He participated in 150 exhibitions in Serbia and around the world, under the auspices of various amateur associations (FIAP, PSA, GPU, MOL, IAAP …..), where he won about 150 medals and awards in more than 25 countries, as well as four awards for best exhibitor (Blue badge FIAP).
He also participated in invitational exhibitions organized by the “Balkan Culture” association from Kalamata in Greece, in 2017, 2018, and 2019., just like in the Balkan project, which is being exhibited in all of the Balkan countries, including the ending exhibit in Paris 2024. At the invitation of the organizers from the Acropolis in Italy, he participated in the exhibition “My Myths” in 2015 and 2016, among 30 selected authors from Europe.
He had solo exhibitions “My People” in December 2011, Kragujevac, Serbia, “My Way” in February 2016 at the National Museum in Kragujevac, “Momentum” in May 2021, Fotograd Negova 2021, Slovenia, and also “Momentum” in 2022, in June, Kumanovo, Macedonia, Art Galery, exhibition “Something in Between” Banatski Brestovac, Serbia, 2022, in November, also exhibition “Something in Between” Paraćin, Serbia, 2022, in November, foto fest “Saramantes”. He also had a solo exhibition in Lithuania, in the art gallery of the city of Dusetos, in October 2024. He is currently the president of the Photo Club Kragujeva Serbia.
Holder of the title MF FSS (master of photography of Serbia), EFIAP, and Master of Light (MOL) artist. He is currently the president of the Photo Club Kragujevac from Kragujevac.
His personal web page: https://budjevac.com/
Dejan Kokol, EFIAP/g, MF FZS – Slovenia
Dejan Kokol, born in 1982, a professor of German and Sociology, is the headmaster of the Gornja Radgona Primary School. Since 2005, photography has become an important part of his life. He is mostly self-taught in this field and experiments with various photographic styles and techniques. His favorite subjects are travel and street photography, landscape and portraits. The predominant style is black and white with strong leading lines and geometric elements. He combined his hobby with his profession and in 2009 he founded FOTOGROŠ, a photography club where he successfully shares his knowledge and love for photography to his students as a mentor.
Since 2014 he has been a member of the Proportio Divina Photography Club in Gornja Radgona, and since 2020 he has also been a member of the Digital Photo Club in Celje. So far he has had five solo exhibitions and participated in more than 245 group exhibitions, with more than 900 photographs accepted in more than 30 countries around the world. He has received over 100 awards and diplomas for his photographs. His photograph “Into the Unknown” became the most successful FZS image in 2014, and he himself became the second most successful exhibitor of that year. For his photographic achievements, he was awarded the title of Master of Photography (MF) by the Photographic Association of Slovenia in 2024 and EFIAP/g by the International Federation of Photography (FIAP) in 2024.
Some of his works can be found here: https://www.digitalna-kamera.si/portfelj-bralca-st-112-dejan-kokol/