Bio
Nelly Elagina (b. 1991) is a photographer and scientist based in Moscow. In 2022, she graduated from the St. Petersburg School of Modern Photography Docdocdoc, specializing in documentary photography and photojournalism.
Her work explores themes of environmental transformation, faith, and cultural rituals—particularly the intersection of human and natural fragility. Alongside her photographic practice, she researches glaciers, with her PhD thesis (2025) focusing on their degradation. Her long-term visual project documents these vanishing landscapes, while other works delves into religious communities and Russian funeral traditions, probing humanity’s relationship with impermanence and perception of loss.
Awards
2021 — CPOY — Team picture story — Silver
2022 — BarTur Photo Award — Ann Lesley (Student) — 2nd place
2023 — Siena Photo Awards — Beauty of nature — shortlisted
2023 — Jalón Ángel International Photographic Award — Travel — special mention
Exhibitions
February 2023 — BarTur Photo Awards collective exhibition — F3 freiraum für fotografie — Berlin, Germany
July 2023 — BarTur Photo Awards collective exhibition — The Fort Institute of Photography — Warsaw, Poland
June 2025 — A scientific research: Visual Documents and Creative investigation Methods — LoosenArt Gallery — Rome, Italy
Publications and Interviews
S-T-O-L — 24 hours with death and joy
Perito.media — Story of a glaciologist: glaciers, expeditions and polar bears
Vokrug Sveta — 11 questions for a glaciologist
Radio Sputnik — Hotly beloved ice
Eto Neprosto Podcast — Nelly Elagina and ice exploration
Station North Podcast — Ice and traveling
Norm Podcast — Why glaciers are shrinking