From Ukraine to the Front Lines: Sandra Vidrequin ‘Shark Life’ on War Photography

About this story

In this episode of Vegas Veteran Voices, we sit down with Sandra “Sharklife” Vidrequin, a Norwegian Army Veteran, conflict photographer, and humanitarian who documents war zones using the one weapon she believes should be used: a camera.

Sandra has photographed revolutions, protests, and active conflict zones around the world, including Egypt during the Arab Spring and, most recently, Ukraine. She walks us through what it’s actually like to live under constant air raid sirens, sleep fully dressed with a go-bag ready, and decide when running to a bomb shelter does more harm than good. This isn’t a headline version of war, it’s the exhaustion, the fear, the waiting, and the mental toll that follows you home.

We talk about her background in the Norwegian Army, how her military experience shaped the way she moves through danger, and why Veterans often understand chaos differently than civilians. Sandra also opens up about PTSD, identity after service, and how documenting other people’s suffering became a way to survive her own.

Beyond conflict photography, Sandra is also involved with Team Rubicon, supporting disaster response efforts alongside Veterans and civilians who refuse to sit on the sidelines when communities are in crisis. This conversation explores purpose after service, why some Veterans run toward danger instead of away from it, and what happens when the mission doesn’t end, it just changes form.

This episode isn’t about glorifying war. It’s about bearing witness, telling the stories that don’t make the news, and understanding the cost carried by the people who choose to stand in the middle of it.

Sandra is also a 5.11 Tactical ambassador, a role that reflects her real-world experience rather than branding alone. From conflict zones to disaster response environments, she relies on functional gear built for movement, durability, and survival. Her work with 5.11 centers around their Go-Bag campaign, highlighting the importance of preparedness when operating in unstable and unpredictable conditions. For Sandra, gear isn’t about aesthetics, it’s about having the right tools when seconds matter and there’s no margin for failure.

Follow Sandra:
Instagram: @sharklife777

Vegas Veteran Voices exists to share real Veteran stories, not filtered, not sanitized, and not reduced to soundbites. Stories over stigma.

In their words

“There’s a brotherhood, unspoken brotherhood, between soldiers and ex-soldiers.”

“We don’t even need to talk about it. We just know it as brothers and sisters.”

“I did that because I wanted the stories to get out there.”