The woman with the rose-tinted glasses

As her homeland is ravaged by war, she finds hope, solace and inspiration in capturing the beauty of everything from the

mundane to the extraordinary in her unique photographs. It was by pure chance that she bought the sunglasses with the pink lenses, but soon it became her preferred way of looking at life. Through these sunglasses, the world really does seem brighter, says 48-year-old photographer Olga Nesterenko from Swakopmund.

“There are so many dark sides to our lives, so why not colour them in whenever possible?”

Consciously choosing to embrace life with arms wide open, the Ukrainian native grew up in Zaporizhzhia, in the centre of the

Cossacks. Olga, with her rose-tinted glasses, knows all too well about the frailty of life. Her hometown is currently a front-line city in

the war raging for the past few years between the country and Russia, with the battlefield only 30 kilometres away.

The word Cossack means a freedom-loving person, explains Olga.

‘Love at first sight’

“When I landed in Namibia, I immediately felt at home; it was love at first sight. Cossacks are known for their courage,

independence and keen sense of justice. Land of the brave and land of freedom to me are not mere words but a lifestyle.

These are the main common features of Ukraine and Namibia.”

At first, she struggled to find a job when she arrived, but not one to “sit idly by”, she turned to her lifelong hobby of

photography. “My dad used to take photographs and always took little me into his darkroom to develop photos and show me this scientific magic!”

The love for photography fostered by her father continued into adulthood, with friends and colleagues often joking that

while others might pack their best shoes for a trip, Olga made sure her camera was the most important part of her baggage.

Now that photography is her full-time occupation, she focuses on capturing a variety of events and topics.

“My friends and colleagues always said my photos conveyed emotion, which to me is the most important thing. Emotions get

locked in your memory and fill our lives. The joy of an anniversary captured in photos can stir up a wave of memories, even 20, 30

years later.”

Enrichment through photography

Attending events serves as a form of stress relief and recreation for her, allowing Olga to temporarily step away from her daily

routine.

“I often shoot events that offer a wealth of knowledge and learning opportunities. Being exposed to various ideas, cultures

and perspectives broadens horizons, challenges assumptions, promotes more open-mindedness, and helps you develop a

more compassionate outlook towards others. “It provides me with an opportunity to meet new people and expand my network.

To engage with like-minded individuals who share similar interests boosts my sense of belonging and reduces any feelings of

isolation or loneliness.” It’s Namibia’s beautiful skies and her unique landscapes that truly stole her heart and ignited her passion for nature photography, she admits.

“These are my happy-go-lucky places. Natural, scenic beauty makes me feel alive inside!” In Ukraine, she admits she did not have

time for photography, something she now regrets. "Yes, I shot landscapes, but it was all in a rush. Life in Ukraine is very fast; you are

always in a hurry. In Namibia, I was very surprised by the slow way of life. You should always take the time to look around,

to at least be in and feel the here and now.”

It can be something as seemingly ordinary as a seagull looking enviously at the one next to him or a ray of sunshine breaking

through a streak of foliage. “I always found time to memorise these moments while I was still living in Ukraine. My husband even calls me ‘Sunbeam’! Memories and moments became even more special to me with the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”

In Olga’s landscape photographs, she strives to capture the moment and is inspired by the magnificent photographs of Solly Levy,

whom she describes as a mentor and teacher. As a marketing specialist and administrative manager in her previous life in Ukraine,

Olga currently photographs, among other things, commercial projects, aiming to capture the core and goals of the company.

She always tries to learn new things. “When you develop a new skill, you gain confidence and courage, and you feel more

empowered and confident.”

Focus on the bright side

"We learn new things in all aspects of our lives," she says. Three years ago, the couple found a three-week-old puppy in their yard, and she had no idea how to care for the unplanned surprise.

“I had no idea what to do with it! I had to go through a bunch of articles and watch hundreds of videos. But if it weren’t for our

dog, I don’t know how I would have survived 2022. A dog is a natural antidepressant. She understands you without words. When I cry, she lies next to me without moving or licking my face. Or she begins to bark for a walk and I would realise at that moment that is exactly what I need!”

She’s known for looking at life through rose-tinted glasses, Olga admits. “An old friend of mine recently said I keep

seeing the world in a more positive light than it really is and I should take off my rose-tinted glasses. But I try to find

positives in every situation and colour the world in for myself!”

On any trip, she tries to bring back only pleasant memories, she says. “I have never understood people who go

somewhere and then remain dissatisfied with either a soup in some restaurant served to them once or a rusty tap in a

hotel room. You didn’t come to see the tap after all! ”

Olga admits that when Russia occupied a part of Ukraine in 2014, the grey did creep in. And in 2022, her world became black

and white. “There are no other colours in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Either you are on the dark side or you are on the bright side.”

As for her daily life, she will always choose to see it through rose-tinted lenses.

- Facebook: Olga’s PhotoDesign; [email protected]