I was born in a remote Russian village in the Far East on the shores of Sea of Okhotsk. I grew up on the steppes of Southern Kazakhstan, and I worked and lived all over the world since then. My family, working in the Soviet military, traveled around the former Soviet Union, including less known areas where polar bears roam freely, the aurora borealis can be seen for months, and the indigenous chukchas live in seal skin covered yarangas. For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by stories of far-away places and cultures different than mine. I've been fortunate to travel to many regions of the world and I chose photography as a means to share the beauty, the people and the lands I discover.