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ČISTO NA ZAČETKU
Rojena v letu, ko so fotografirali »skrivnostni obraz« na Marsu. Moji najstarejši spomini so vezani na gozdna raziskovanja in ustvarjalnost. Odraščanje v idili redko zaseljenega podeželja me je trdno povezalo z naravo, veliko bolj kot z ljudmi.
Kot osnovnošolka pogosto zaprta v sobo med barve, škarje in papir. Udeleženka vsake šolske likovne kolonije, imela privilegij porisati stekleni vezni hodnik na OŠ Vojnik. Prosti čas sem izkoriščala za pohajkovanja v naravi, pisanja neskončnih pisem stotini dopisovalcev z vsega sveta, zbiranje znamk, izdelovanje lastnega mesečnega časopisa za prijateljice, risanje. Na koncu OŠ sem si prislužila naslov najboljše športnice šole in zna biti, da je po kupu priznanj in spominov osnovna šola štela v moje najuspešnejše življenjsko obdobje.
SREDNJA ŠOLA
Štiri leta na Kajuhovi gimnaziji v Celju so bila predvsem čas za širjenje obzorij. Šele zdaj opažam, da je to obdobje najmočneje zaznamovala francoščina pri prof. Slavku Deržku. Frankofonijo je uspel tako vtisniti v moje globine, da je čez dolga leta tudi moj sin dobil francosko ime. Pri mojih prvih srednješolskih delovnih izkušnjah sem se dotaknila grafičnega oblikovanja v celjskem studiu RaGra. Razmišljanje o nadaljnjem izobraževanju mi je delalo preglavice, saj sem imela v mislih zelo široko paleto fakultet, ki so pokrivale naravoslovje, tehniko, družboslovje in umetnost. O tem smo se neko šolsko uro pogovarjali s prof. Juano Robido. Zadostoval je en pogled iznad očal in povsem nova ideja »zakaj pa ti ne bi šla študirat arhitekture, ko si tako ustvarjalna«.
FAKULTETA
Brez risarskih priprav in predznanja je bil sprejemni izpit za mano in velik korak v življenju zakoličen. Otrok podeželja se je preselil v urbano slovensko prestolnico. Nikoli je nisem zares ponotranjila, me je pa študentski čas naučil, da lahko svoje korenine zasadim kadarkoli in kjerkoli, kjer se dobro počutim. Študij arhitekture je izpilil teoretično podlago moje splošne ustvarjalnosti in mi je ustrezal zaradi specifičnega prepleta tehnike z umetnostjo.
ARHITEKTURA
Še pred koncem študija sem dobila priložnost za delo v Razvojnem centru Inženiringi Celje, kjer sem z odlično ekipo arhitektov ter gradbenih, strojnih in elektro strokovnjakov padla v realni svet gradbeništva. Pri študiju papir prenese vse, praksa pa je neusmiljena. Sodelovala sem tudi z birojem GO ing d.o.o. Čez čas je arhitekturni del podjetja RCI razpadel in novo službo sem si kot izbranka na razpisu našla na Ceste Mostovi Inženiring Celje. Zanimiva izkušnja je bila delati v precej velikem podjetju, kjer sem bila svoje prvo leto npr. deležna še velike kolektivne proslave in daril ob dnevu žena. Samostojne izkušnje na gradbišču in sodelovanja z različnimi projektantskimi ekipami so prinesli ogromno praktičnega znanja in veselila sem se svoje poklicne poti v velikem podjetju, načrtovala strokovni izpit in se predvsem prehitro veselila dobre zgodbe, saj je inženiring skupaj z velikim matičnim podjetjem v nekaj letih odšel rakom žvižgat. To je bil krizni čas, ko so razpadli tudi vsi večji projektivni biroji in se je zdelo nemogoče dobiti službo arhitekta.
TURIZEM
Družina je načeloma tista, ki človeku vedno stoji ob strani in odprla so se mi vrata v svet mednarodnih in domačih avtobusnih prevozov. V majhnem podjetju je človek hitro primoran prijeti za vsako delo in se izpili na vseh področjih, delo v turistični branži pa mi je bilo vedno nekakšna simpatija, zato sem se zlahka vživela. Načrtovanje potovanj, jeziki, komunikacija, logistika. Delovno mesto »deklica za vse« – od čiščenja avtobusov pa do pravniških poslov – me je opremilo s številnimi novimi znanji. Stika z arhitekturo tudi v tem obdobju nisem izgubila, še vedno sem se našla v kakšni zanimivi arhitekturni zgodbi, poleg tega pa sem se preizkušala tudi v pisanju različnih poljudno-strokovnih člankov za arhitekturne revije.
FOTO ZAČETKI
Kot nekakšen produkt kreativnosti, potovanj in poklica sem po vrsti naključij našla veselje tudi v fotografskem izražanju. Leta 2008 sem bila povabljena v Društvo fotografov Svit in tam pravzaprav šele spoznala osnove širnega fotografskega ustvarjanja, ki presega zgolj lepote ujetih trenutkov za družinski album. Povlekel me je takrat aktualni tok pošiljanja fotografij na razpise in prejemati sem začela prve nagrade. Najbolj so se mi vtisnile v spomin zlata medalja za posamično fotografijo s klubskega svetovnega prvenstva v Parizu (2010), zlata medalja in zlat prstan na celjskem mednarodnem salonu (2009) ter srebrna medalja s pokalom v Abu Dhabiju (2011), kamor smo bili nagrajenci tudi povabljeni. Tam so se zanetila zanimiva mednarodna prijateljstva, ki so me pozneje ponesla še drugod po svetu.
FOTO RAZCVET
Vštric s številnimi domačimi in mednarodnimi fotografskimi nagradami so spontano prišli tudi uradni fotografski nazivi. V mednarodni fotografski zvezi nosim naziv “excellence FIAP diamond 1” in v domači fotografski zvezi najvišji naziv “mojstrica fotografije MF FZS«. Večkrat sem vabljena kot članica žirije na domače in mednarodne fotografske razstave. V letu 2019 sem bila povabljena tudi v ekipo izvršilnega odbora Fotografske zveze Slovenije, v naslednjem mandatu pa sem bila izvoljena za podpredsednico FZS.
DIGITALNA KAMERA
V mojo zgodbo o fotografiji se je pred leti vpletla tudi revija Digitalna Kamera. Začelo se je l. 2009 s prvo nagrado na Fotosalonovem fotografskem natečaju (KLIK tukaj za anekdoto), dolgoletno sodelovanje z Igorjem Rosino pa je prineslo širok repertoar novih znanj in predvsem številne nove izzive, ki vedno znova premikajo moje meje. Testiranje in preučevanje foto opreme, intervjuji s svetovno znanimi fotografi, pisanje fotografskih nasvetov, reportaž in dolge serije strokovnih tekstov na posamične teme fotografskega ustvarjanja, in še toliko zanimivega. Fotografija se je začela tesno povezovati z novinarstvom, izobraževanjem, turizmom … in če se navežem na konec srednje šole, ko se kar nisem mogla odločiti, na katero področje naj usmerim svoje življenje – v realnosti kar dobro povezujem precej velik del mojih interesov.
USTVARJALKA
Zgodba o avtobusnem turizmu se je v korona časih zaključila, se pa pogosto znajdem za volanom kombija, ko se z Digitalno Kamero podajamo na fotopotepe širom Evrope, kar mi je bistveno ljubše od sedenja v pisarni. “Moje vesolje” je velik preplet ustvarjalnosti – svoje arhitekturno poslanstvo udejanjam s sodelavci v biroju Razvoj Vizije d.o.o., kjer se posvečamo predvsem institucionalnim gradnjam, pogosto primem v roke fotoaparat in posnamem razne dogodke ali izvedem portretiranja, marsikdaj zapolnjujem prazne strani s teksti na različne teme, pripravljam fotografske razstavne projekte od ideje do izvedbe (naj omenim tradicionalne fotografske razstave v organizaciji Digitalnega Foto Kluba, kot so »Mladost ni norost«, »Celjska fotografska razstava«, »ex-tempore Osvetlimo rdeče« in še mnogo drugih), tu in tam se lotim kakšnega grafično-oblikovalskega izziva, oblikujem in postavim knjigo, oblikujem celostno grafično podobo itd.
MENTORSTVO
V letu 2022 sem bila povabljena za mentorico fotografske skupine na Univerzi za tretje življenjsko obdobje Žalec in s to skupino, ki postaja vedno bolj kompleksna in prepoznavna širom Slovenije, še vedno skupaj ustvarjamo. Toliko dobrega imamo dati drug drugemu! Tekom mojega ustvarjanja so se mi ponudile priložnosti za delo z mladimi – od enkratnega povabila v vrtec, kjer sem majhne zvedavčke navdušila nad fotografijo, do dveh sezon somentorstva foto krožka na OŠ Vojnik ter dveh šolskih let somentorstva v foto krožku na srednji šoli ŠHVU Celje, kjer smo se resnično dobro ujeli. Ob vzpostavitvi višješolskega študijskega programa fotografija so me povabili k sodelovanju kot izvajalki praktičnih vaj pri različnih predmetih, v letu 2026 pa sem postala tudi predavateljica fotografskih predmetov.
Kaj imajo hodniki življenja zame pripravljeno v prihodnosti, pa … kdo bi vedel. Kot vedno, bom tu in tam spontano odprla kakšna vrata in zvedavo pokukala, kaj je za njimi.
NOVEJŠE POMEMBNEJŠE FOTOGRAFSKE NAGRADE
(cel seznam TUKAJ)
– 1. mesto v temi pokrajina – XPOSURE Awards 2022, Združeni Arabski Emirati
– najboljših 10, Alpha Female Awards 2023 – Sony World Photography Awards, London
– najboljših 15, odprta kategorija, Sony World Photography Awards 2023, London
– absolutna zmagovalka, Travel Photographer of the Year 2023, Suffolk, Združeno kraljestvo
– nagrajenka Huawei XMAGE Awards 2025, prejemnica nagrade v Parizu
CARPE DIEM
Morda je na mestu, da razložim tisti krepki, rdeči “CARPE DIEM” na uvodni strani. Rimljani so dobro poznali življenje in po toliko stoletjih nismo prišli prav daleč naprej. Dejstvo je, da je življenje že samo po sebi nepredvidljivo. Nikoli ne veš, kaj bo jutri. Zato je potrebno izkoristiti dan, ki je na voljo. In to je danes. Danes nazdravite s tistimi najbolj fensi kozarci za šampanjec, danes ljubljeni osebi ušpičite kaj lepega, danes se uležite v mehko travo in poslušajte, kako raste. Bodite veseli, da ste še med živimi, ko se zjutraj zbudite. Izkoristite dan. Užijte dan. Izžemite iz njega tisto, kar vam največ pomeni.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
I was born in the year when the famous “Face on Mars” was photographed. My earliest memories are filled with exploring the woods and creating things. Growing up in the idyllic solitude of a sparsely populated countryside forged a deep connection with nature — much deeper, perhaps, than my connection with people.
As a primary school child, I could often be found shut away in my room, surrounded by paints, scissors and paper. I took part in virtually every school art colony and was even given the privilege of painting the glass-covered connecting corridor at Vojnik Primary School.
I spent my free time wandering through nature, writing endless letters to a hundred pen pals around the world, collecting stamps, making my own monthly magazine for friends and, of course, drawing. By the end of primary school, I had earned the title of the school’s best female athlete. Looking back at the pile of certificates and memories, it may well have been one of the most successful chapters of my life.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Four years at Kajuh Grammar School in Celje were primarily a time of broadening my horizons. Only now do I realise how strongly this period was shaped by French, taught by Professor Slavko Deržek. He managed to instil such a deep love of French culture and the Francophone world in me that, many years later, even my son was given a French name.
During my first work experiences as a secondary-school student, I got a taste of graphic design at the RaGra studio in Celje. At the time, choosing what to study next was a real struggle. I was considering an unusually wide range of university programmes, spanning natural sciences, technology, social sciences and the arts.
One school lesson, I was discussing my dilemma with Professor Juana Robida. All it took was one look at me over her glasses and a completely new idea: “Why don’t you study architecture? You’re so creative.” And just like that, a new direction appeared.
UNIVERSITY
Without any formal drawing preparation or previous experience, I passed the entrance examination, and a major new chapter of my life was set in motion.
A child of the countryside moved to Slovenia’s urban capital. I never truly made Ljubljana my inner home, but my student years taught me something important: roots can be planted anywhere, at any time, as long as you feel good where you are.
Studying architecture gave my naturally creative mind a strong theoretical foundation. I was drawn to the discipline because of its unique combination of technology, structure and art — a balance that suited me perfectly.
ARCHITECTURE
Before completing my studies, I was given an opportunity to work at Razvojni center Inženiringi Celje. There, alongside an excellent team of architects and civil, mechanical and electrical engineers, I stepped into the real world of construction. At university, paper can tolerate almost anything. Reality is far less forgiving.
I also collaborated with the architectural firm GO ing d.o.o. Later, when the architectural division of RCI fell apart, I found a new position at Ceste Mostovi Inženiring Celje, having been selected through an open recruitment process. Working for a relatively large company was an interesting experience. During my first year, for example, I was still treated to the full corporate experience — including a large collective celebration and gifts for International Women’s Day.
Working independently on construction sites and collaborating with different design teams brought an enormous amount of practical knowledge. I was looking forward to building my professional career within a large company and was already planning my professional examination. Perhaps I was simply celebrating the happy ending a little too soon. Within a few years, the engineering company, together with its much larger parent organisation, collapsed. It was a time of crisis. Major architectural practices were disappearing one after another, and finding a job as an architect seemed almost impossible.
TOURISM
Family is often the place where support comes from when life takes an unexpected turn. A new door opened for me into the world of international and domestic bus transportation. In a small company, you quickly learn to do everything. You are expected to take on whatever needs doing, and in the process you become skilled in a surprisingly wide range of areas.
I had always had a soft spot for tourism, so I slipped naturally into the role. Travel planning, languages, communication, logistics — there was always something new to learn. My job as the company’s “girl for everything” ranged from cleaning buses to dealing with legal matters. It equipped me with an extraordinary collection of new skills.
Even during this period, I never completely lost touch with architecture. I continued to find my way into interesting architectural stories and also began writing accessible professional articles for architectural magazines.
THE BEGINNINGS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography entered my life almost as a natural by-product of creativity, travelling and everything else I had already been doing. After a series of coincidences, I discovered the joy of photographic expression. In 2008, I was invited to join the Svit Photographers’ Association, where I truly began to discover the vast world of photography — a world that goes far beyond simply capturing beautiful moments for a family album. I was drawn into the then-thriving world of photographic competitions and started receiving my first awards.
Among the achievements that have stayed with me most strongly are a gold medal for an individual photograph at the World Photographic Club Championship in Paris in 2010, a gold medal and gold ring at the Celje International Salon in 2009, and a silver medal and trophy in Abu Dhabi in 2011, where the award winners were also invited to attend. Those competitions brought fascinating international friendships into my life — friendships that later opened doors to other parts of the world.
PHOTOGRAPHY IN FULL BLOOM
Alongside numerous national and international photographic awards came a series of official distinctions. Within the International Federation of Photographic Art, I hold the title Excellence FIAP Diamond 1, while within the Photographic Association of Slovenia I hold its highest photographic distinction, Master of Photography (MF FZS). I am regularly invited to serve as a jury member at national and international photographic exhibitions. In 2019, I was invited to join the Executive Board of the Photographic Association of Slovenia. In the following term, I was elected Vice-President of the organisation.
DIGITAL CAMERA
Several years ago, the magazine Digital Camera became another important thread in my photographic story. It all began in 2009, when I won first prize in the Fotosalon photographic competition — an experience that has its own little anecdote — and what followed was a long-term collaboration with Igor Rosina that brought me a vast repertoire of new knowledge and, above all, countless challenges that continually pushed my boundaries.
Testing and exploring photographic equipment, interviewing world-renowned photographers, writing photography tips and advice, producing features and long series of expert articles on individual aspects of photographic creativity — there was always something new. Photography gradually became intertwined with journalism, education, tourism and many other fields.
And if I return to that dilemma at the end of secondary school, when I simply could not decide which direction to take in life, perhaps the answer was there all along. In reality, I have managed to connect a surprisingly large part of my interests into one rather diverse and colourful story.
CREATIVE BY NATURE
My chapter in bus tourism came to an end during the COVID years. I still often find myself behind the wheel of a van, however, when Digital Camera takes us on photographic adventures across Europe — something I enjoy far more than sitting behind a desk.
Moje vesolje — “My Universe” — is a vast blend of creativity.
I pursue my architectural calling with my colleagues at Razvoj Vizije d.o.o., where we focus primarily on institutional and public buildings.
I regularly pick up a camera to photograph events or create portraits. I fill blank pages with texts on a wide range of subjects. I develop photographic exhibition projects from the initial idea all the way through to their realisation. Among them are the traditional photographic exhibitions organised by the Digital Photo Club, including Youth Is No Madness, Celje Photographic Exhibition, Ex Tempore: Let’s Light Up Red, and many others.
Every now and then, I take on a graphic design challenge, design and produce a book, create a complete visual identity — or simply follow wherever the next creative idea happens to lead.
MENTORSHIP
In 2022, I was invited to become a mentor to the photography group at the University for the Third Age in Žalec. I am still creating alongside this group today, watching it grow increasingly complex, confident and recognisable across Slovenia. There is so much we can give one another.
Throughout my creative journey, I have also had opportunities to work with younger generations — from a one-off invitation to a kindergarten, where I introduced a group of curious little explorers to the magic of photography, to two seasons as co-mentor of the photography club at Vojnik Primary School. I also spent two school years as co-mentor of the photography club at ŠHVU Celje, where we truly clicked as a group.
When a new higher-education photography programme was established, I was invited to contribute as a practical instructor in several subjects. In 2026, I took another step forward and became a lecturer in photography.
AND WHAT COMES NEXT?
Who knows what the corridors of life have waiting for me around the next corner. As always, I will probably open a door here and there simply because I am curious — and take a peek inside to see what is waiting on the other side.
RECENT MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
(Full list HERE)
- 1st Place, Landscape Category — XPOSURE Awards 2022, United Arab Emirates
- Top 10 — Alpha Female Awards 2023, Sony World Photography Awards, London
- Top 15, Open Competition — Sony World Photography Awards 2023, London
- Overall Winner — Travel Photographer of the Year 2023, Suffolk, United Kingdom
- Huawei XMAGE Awards 2025 Winner — recipient of the award in Paris
SHORT PHOTO-BIO
An architect by practice and profession, she is also a passionate lover of nature, our planet, and the secrets of the universe. An aesthete and a creative soul across various fields, she doesn’t label herself as a photographer—photography is her essential need, a way to capture and preserve the moments of her life.
More than a decade ago, she began connecting with like-minded in a local photography club, and since then, her approach to photography has deepened and expanded. She has received numerous national and international photography awards and is frequently invited to judge photography competitions. She was honored with the prestigious TPOTY 2023 title and was twice a finalist in the Sony WPA 2023. In her national photography association, she holds the title of Master Photographer, and internationally she has earned the EFIAP/d1 distinction.
She was the photography editor and content creator for Digital Camera Slovenia magazine, the vice president of the Photographic Association of Slovenia, also vice president of Digital Photo Club, a menthor and lecturer, and the leader of a photography group for seniors. Together with her team, she organizes photography trips across Europe and organizes numerous domestic and international photographic exhibition projects.
For her, photography is a way of life, a form of creative relaxation, and a constant source of inspiration. She rarely defines it as work, even when photographing for a specific project.
She believes that photography is created in the mind, the camera merely being a tool to bring that vision to life. She primarily shoots with Canon and often writes user reviews for various photography equipment. When she doesn’t have her camera with her, there is always her mobile phone on hand, favoring high-end Huawei models, which allow for quite high-quality shots.
