The tenth anniversary of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, also marked my tenth time photographing the event in this remarkable city. For that reason alone, this year’s edition held a very special meaning for me.
Mostar is a city with soul, shaped by history and inseparably connected to the centuries-old tradition of diving from the Old Bridge into the Neretva River. It is also a location I know extremely well and one I am always happy to return to.
When you photograph the same event for so many years, one of the greatest challenges is finding new ways to tell its story. In my work, discovering different angles is essential. Each new edition should have its own visual identity and offer something that has not been seen before.

That constant search for a different perspective has taken me to many places. Sometimes I photograph from the diving platform itself, sometimes from the bridge or the riverbank, and sometimes from a boat or directly from the water, as I did in 2025. On other occasions, I have photographed through the windows of local homes, like I did in 2023.
Interestingly, this year was one of the rare occasions when I did not choose the water as my main strategic position, and the decision worked out better than I could have expected.

This time, I discovered several hidden spots within Mostar’s old stone walls. These secluded locations revealed the full beauty of the city and gave me a completely different view of the dives, allowing me to frame the athletes, the Old Bridge, and the surrounding architecture from a fresh perspective.
You can see the secret route leading to the hidden location in this Instagram video.
Finding the ideal position is only one part of creating unique images. I also rely on a drone, which gives me the freedom to explore angles that would otherwise be impossible to reach and helps me bring the full scale, atmosphere, and beauty of the event into each photograph.

BRIDGE DIVING LEGACY OF MOSTAR

This tenth-anniversary edition of Red Bull Cliff Diving gathered 23,000 spectators to its historic setting in Mostar, where fans followed three days of high-level competition. Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland held her nerve in a dramatic final round to claim victory and secure her tenth title at the penultimate stop of the 2026 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The men’s competition was equally gripping, with the top two contenders separated by just 0.1 points as Romania’s Constantin Popovici narrowly claimed the win.
The iconic Stari Most, or “Old Bridge,” has provided the dramatic setting for Mostar’s diving tradition for centuries. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, the bridge remains at the heart of one of the city’s most enduring cultural and sporting customs.
The history of bridge diving in Mostar can be traced back to the 17th century, almost a hundred years after the Ottomans completed Stari Most. The earliest known record of young men leaping from the 27-metre-high bridge into the Neretva River dates to 1664.

These early divers were known as Mostari, or “bridge keepers,” and their daring jumps soon became symbols of courage and honour. For generations of young men, diving from the bridge served as a rite of passage, marking the transition from adolescence into adulthood.
The challenge required far more than bravery. Divers had to judge their position, timing, and entry with exceptional precision to reduce the risk of injury. Although the early dives were informal, they were also highly competitive, with participants seeking the admiration of their peers and the recognition of the wider community.

Over time, the tradition developed into an organised sport that now attracts athletes from around the world. Mostar has hosted an official annual diving competition since 1968, establishing it as one of the city’s best-known summer events. The tradition was interrupted during the Bosnian War, when Stari Most was destroyed, but returned following the bridge’s reconstruction in 2004.
Today, bridge diving represents more than athletic skill. It reflects fearlessness, community pride, and the resilience of a city that has endured centuries of conflict and hardship. The divers are respected for their courage, while the event itself has become a powerful symbol of continuity and unity in a city shaped by a complex past.
Since 2015, Mostar has been included as one of the stops on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, showcasing the world’s top high divers against the backdrop of this iconic location.Over the past decade, the Old Bridge has provided the stage for unforgettable victories, historic records and moments that have travelled around the world.
It is here that new chapters in the sport’s history have been written, the greatest champions have celebrated, future stars have claimed their first victories and records have been broken, cementing Mostar’s status as one of the most special stops on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

ABOUT RED BULL CLIFF DIVING WORLD SERIES

Founded in 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has grown into the world’s leading high-diving competition. Each season, the best male and female divers leap from platforms positioned between 26 and 28 metres above the water, depending on the venue. During each dive, they perform complex acrobatics before entering the water at speeds of up to 85 km/h.
The series travels to some of the most spectacular locations around the world, from dramatic sea cliffs to iconic bridges and historic fortresses, transforming natural and cultural landmarks into unforgettable sporting arenas.

INSIDE THE PHOTOSHOOT WITH PREDRAG VUCKOVIC

Predrag Vuckovic’s experience with events such as the Red Bull Cliff Diving goes far beyond technical photography skills. Having worked closely with the sport for many years, he understands the divers’ movements, the timing of each dive and the visual elements to create a unique image. This familiarity allows him to anticipate specific moments and capture both the athletic precision and the atmosphere surrounding the competition.
Vuckovic is also highly versatile in the equipment and techniques he uses at events like this. He is constantly searching for new perspectives, whether by finding strategically valuable and often unexpected vantage points whether on the land or in the water, or using drones, remotely controlled cameras and specialised equipment.

Equipment used for this photoshoot

Cameras: 2x Nikon Z9
Lenses: 70 – 200mm f 2.8, 24 – 70mm f 2.8, 14 – 24mm f 2.8, 35mm f 1.2
Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 3

This combination of experience and an instinct for discovering new perspectives allows Vuckovic to tell the story of each event in a distinctive way.