About the Photographer

Hi, I’m Alison Lee Rubie – photographer, conservationist, animal lover, and now a proud keeper at Taronga Zoo. My days are pretty special: sometimes I’m out in the zoo caring for incredible animals, other times I’m teaching beginner photographers how to capture their first great shot.

Photography has been my way of connecting with wildlife for over a decade. I started with a simple Canon 600D, not really knowing what I was doing, just chasing that feeling of wonder whenever I saw an animal through the lens. Since then, my work has been lucky enough to receive recognition in competitions like the Mosman Photography Awards, the Crikey! Magazine Cover competition, and Australian Photographer of the Year.

But awards aren’t really what drive me – it’s the animals. From lions on the plains of Africa to the tiniest, shy pangolin, I’ve been fortunate to photograph some of the world’s most breathtaking wildlife across Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Victoria Falls, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Each trip reminds me why I fell in love with this work in the first place and I continue to explore new and exciting regions filled with earth's wonders and beauty.

When I’m not on safari, you’ll usually find me in Sydney – either behind the camera capturing special moments, or sharing my passion for wildlife and photography with guests at the zoo. For me, it all comes back to the same thing: inspiring people to connect with and care for animals, whether through a lens or in real life.