macro by maryam عربي
Maryam Aalali, Emirati macro photographer, smiling as she checks her camera and flash diffuser in the field
In the field, checking the frame

About · Emirati macro photographerMaryam Aalali

مريم آل علي

An Emirati dedicated to documenting the biodiversity of the UAE. Through my lens, I explore the tiny worlds and hidden details that often go unnoticed.

I believe every small creature has a role in our ecosystem and a story worth preserving. My work aims to highlight the beauty of our local nature and share it with others.

Maryam Aalali walking through tall grass searching for insects to document in the UAE

My story

A garden curiosity that became local documentation.

I grew up watching insects in our home gardens, a small curiosity that grew into a deep passion. Today, as an Emirati documenting biodiversity, I find myself returning to the tiny world I loved as a child.

With every image, I learn something new about our rich environment and the life hidden within it.

My macro journey is a journey of calm, reflection, and a desire to preserve the beauty of nature in my country.

Behind the lens

Fieldwork in the UAE

Maryam Aalali crouching at ground level to photograph insects, documenting local UAE biodiversityCamera screen and flash trigger during a macro photography session in the fieldParticipant examining leaves up close during a nature exploration tripMaryam Aalali with her macro photography prints at an outdoor exhibition in the UAE