My name is Alena, but everyone calls me Ali. I've been taking photographs since childhood — thanks to my grandfather and his old Exacta. In 1990, I first reached Africa by ship. I've been returning ever since. Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe — thousands of kilometers in the field, hundreds of nights under African skies. I photograph people, wildlife, and landscapes. I'm drawn to stories, not ticking off destinations. Together with local friends who are my guides and ambassadors, we become part of local life and the wilderness. I lead photo expeditions, publish in FotoVideo magazine, and shoot on a Canon R3. In Lentorre, I discovered the beauty and mastery of shooting from a photography hide. Nature reveals its moments only when you give it time, patience, and respect.