Photographer captures over 1,100 Croatian islands

Boris Kačan

According to official data, from the largest to the smallest, there are 1,244 Croatian islands and there is one man who has captured almost all of them with his camera.

Photographer Boris Kačan, who is from Zadar, has photographed more than Croatian 1,100 islands, mostly by air.

“Photographing from the air best captures the true shape of an island. From a boat or a low perspective, the surrounding sea makes it harder to convey the island’s form. Most shots were taken from planes, helicopters, and more recently, drones,” Kačan explained to HRT.

From above, the sea reveals a variety of shapes.

“The most famous is Galešnjak, the heart-shaped ‘Island of Love,’ but there are others. We found fish-shaped islands like Kamešnjak and Planičić, which we used for the exhibition’s cover. Near the Svetojanj fortress on Pag Island, there’s a peninsula resembling a lamb’s head. On Silba, there’s a small fish shape alongside a seahorse,” he revealed.

Galešnjak (Photo credit: Boris Kačan)

Aiming to Capture the Entire Adriatic

Boris is passionate about his work, which is much more than a job—it’s a labour of love for the sea and islands. His ultimate goal is to photograph the entire Adriatic.

He recently embarked on an adventurous journey across the Adriatic, returning with remarkable images of Croatian islands, islets, reefs, and rocks.

Over 530 of these photos are currently on display in his exhibition Maritime Photo-Cartography at the Biograd Museum.

Alongside the photographs are maps showing the precise locations where they were taken.

“We aimed to accompany the maps with specific areas or groups of islands in a sequence to help visitors easily locate them when viewing the display,” Kačan said.

This project aims to eventually cover all 1,244 islands—an evolving task, considering nature and human intervention,” Kačan added. “The goal is to link this collection with the official register of islands, creating a comprehensive photographic database.”

Ošljak (Photo credit: Boris Kačan)

“He wakes up early, finds new shots, and calls me to discuss them. It’s exhausting but rewarding. He’s persistent, and that’s exactly the kind of dedication we need,” Dr. Tonči Jeličić, Head of the Graphics Department at the Croatian Hydrographic Institute, told HRT.

“Boris Kačan has done an incredible job photographing Croatia’s islands. His work could even increase the official count of islands, which currently fluctuates between 1,244 and 1,246,” added Dr. Josip Faričić.

When the project concludes, it will only mark the beginning of the next phase—presenting these Adriatic jewels in major cities like Paris, London, and New York.

Otok Života (Photo credit: Boris Kačan)

“I feel great about this project,” Kačan said. “I love exploring, discovering new shapes, seas, coasts, and shores.”

You can find out more about Boris Kačan and his work on his website HERE.