Olga Zeltser

To me, photography is the art of storytelling. There is something about it that speaks to me at a deep level. I love that it captures a fleeting moment in life in a way that nothing else does. Even years later I'm able to connect with it and recall what I felt in that exact moment. But beyond the pure joy of reliving the moment, there is a story behind every capture. And it's the story that draws me in and makes me think.

My own story, growing up in Moscow, Russia for most of my childhood and adolescence years was associated with folk dancing and photography. Having traveled widely across Russia and Eastern Europe with my dance group for competitions and concerts I’ve always had my 35mm film camera on me so I can capture the most memorable moments of my adventures. Inspired by the architecture and culture I’ve experienced and the people I’ve met along the way, my photography was about conveying my emotions and perspectives from my journey. To this day my experience with photography is very emotion-driven as it allows me to capture my state of mind in addition to the story beyond the image. It allows me to form an intimate connection with both the act of photography and the moment itself.

This is one of the reasons I’m drawn to two specific photography styles. The black and white street photography (also known as candid), and wildlife

(yes, think lots of hiking and birding, and safari rides). While they are very different in style and technique, both allow me to capture the complex narrative in one single shot.

What stories does my photography tell?

Life is short and precious - celebrate it, in all its forms. Find the beauty beyond what the eye sees and cherish the moments you create.