From Boy Collecting Shells to Creator of a Thousand Millennium Photos: The Incredible Story of Šime Strikomana

Šime Strikoman, a celebrated Croatian cameraman and photojournalist, is on the verge of a remarkable milestone: his thousandth "millennium photograph." The 69-year-year-old, affectionately known as "Mali Šimić" since childhood, has become a household name in Croatia, synonymous with capturing life's significant moments. His work is so iconic that people jokingly ask who will photograph their celebrations if not "their Strikoman."

Strikoman, who hails from a family of butchers, has literally reached new heights in his career, often working from 30 to 50 meters above ground to capture his unique shots. Over his career, he has photographed more than half a million people, and his prolific output shows no signs of slowing down. He is preparing to shoot his thousandth millennium photograph, a testament to his enduring passion and dedication.

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And who will photograph us, who will be our Strikoman?

In a rare interview with Nedjeljni Večernji list in Vodice, Strikoman shared his life story, offering a glimpse into the man behind the lens. He recounted dramatic experiences, including a tank aiming its barrel at him, a near-miss with a rocket on his helicopter, and being stranded at the bottom of the sea, from which he salvaged only his camera. These harrowing moments underscore the risks he has taken throughout his career to document events and capture images.

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A tank aimed its barrel at me, a rocket nearly hit my helicopter, and when I was stranded at the bottom of the sea, I discarded everything but the camera.