During the freezing cold winter of 1994, I found myself on a lorry crossing the frontline to reach Sarajevo. We were on the way  to play a rock concert with Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of Iron Maiden. Sarajevo, the longest siege in modern history, was a place where people were shot for leisure by snipers positioned around the city’s hills. I had come to Sarajevo as a boy and left a week later as a man. If you don’t experience war firsthand, you will never truly understand its true meaning. A glimpse of war is enough to have a lifetime of understanding. Sarajevo is a story of resilience and strength. Despite the impossible circumstances, the people of Sarajevo managed to live a somewhat regular life. I fell in love with this city and its people. Years later, I was part of a documentary named “Scream For Me Sarajevo,” which chronicles the story behind the impossible concert we played during one of the most brutal wars in Europe after World War II. The documentary won many awards worldwide and turned the light back on a story long forgotten. For many people from Sarajevo it meant closure.

These photos were shot during my many trips back to the city.

Alex Elena