Photo journalists of the newspaper Delo spread around the country to take scores of fascinating photographs depicting Slovenia’s Ten-Day War for independence and subsequent events. It was Joco Žnidaršič ’s iconic photograph that showed a line of Slovenian Alpine climbers and mountain rescuers proudly displaying the Slovenian flag for the first time without the five-pointed star of Yugoslavia. The photo shows them standing on top of Mount Triglav capped with a thick layer of snow to honour Slovenia’s independence. Žnidaršič, who was on the editorial board of the central Slovenian publishing house Delo since 1975, has witnessed many events which changed people’s lives – and he himself has also been a part of them.
As the editor at Delo, I had the responsibility of selecting photographs for a special edition on independence. I remembered a photograph where a flag was at half-mast at the time when Tito died. The photo was taken by a policeman named Kofler. I was exceptionally fond of that photo, so much that I also used it in the book, Titova poslednja bitka (Tito’s Last Battle). And then I said to myself: Let’s show a flag on Mount Triglav. Before that, I went to Ludvik Toplak who was my friend in the Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, and asked him what could be done if we didn’t even have our own Slovenian flag or coat-of-arms. His response was simple: display the tricolour without the five-pointed star then. We waited for suitable weather and when the skies cleared, we were on our way. A helicopter took us to the top of the holy mountain on 12 June, where I was taking photos for some 3 to 4 hours. As the sun was setting, the light became more and more beautiful. I took a great number of photos and was pleased with them. But the best time was just before nightfall. The view towards Ljubljana was the prettiest due to the exceptional shadow Mount Triglav cast over half of the country. There was so much snow that Aljaž Tower was buried under it. The group had to descend 10 metres from the top of the mountain and they lit up torches in the gloomy light of dusk. The atmosphere was truly exceptional. That photo became iconic because of its popularity. The newspaper Kmečki glas even issued postcards with that image.
How was it during the Ten-Day War?
I captured the celebrations upon the declaration of independence in Republic Square. I took the photographs to Delo, and then went to Cankarjev Dom Cultural and Congress Centre to party until the next morning. And then early in the morning soon after arriving home, I got a call that there were tanks and barricades set up in the town. I went to Trzin where I found overturned tanks and buses, blockades and ambushes. I recorded everything with my camera and published those photos in a book on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of independence.
What do you think about present-day photographers?
There are many excellent photographers at Delo and in other media outlets. Those involved in sports are really good since the subject is particularly rewarding in terms of successes of our sportspeople. They always do something different and are looking for original approaches.
After 25 years of independence, you perceive Slovenia with some disappointment.
It’s not how we imagined it to be. We could have been on top of the world, particularly with the wonders and natural beauty of our landscape and the diligence of the Slovenian people. Unfortunately, there’s too much discord and division between people. However, I am exceptionally proud of our successful sportspeople who unite us all. I love this Slovenia of ours.
