Lake Abaya is the second largest lake in Ethiopia - only behind Lake Tana. It is separated from Lake Chamo by the towering peak of 'Ye Egzer Dildiy' (God's bridge). Lake Abaya is home to plenty of wildlife including hippopotame and crocodiles. This is also an important source of food for the local fishermen.

This collection explores the regular routine and environment of these daring fishermen. I have some shots of fishermen, both novices and seasoned, interacting with their environments. I hope this collection portrays their lives in a revealing and understanding regard.

Livestock have always been and continue to be a significant resource for many communities across the world and time immemorial, the rural parts of Ethiopia are no exception. The country is home to the most bovines and equids (cattle and horses/donkeys) among other numerous livestock. Wherever you go around the country, you are bound to see the multitudes of domesticated animals that locals depend on so much.

"The Great East African Herds" is inspired by these life-sustaining grazers and their relationship with their keepers and environment. I strove to portray the sense of majesty, no matter how clueless, that I see in the herds I came across during my travels in the region. The sight of such herds is an important component of the sentiment I hold so dearly to the place.

"The Children of Ethiopia" is a collection that came about after I certainly knew I would not travel within Ethiopia any time soon. I realized that I had photographed many of these bright, young souls on multiple trips to various parts of the countryside. I believe that the rural demographic is more representative of the population. You see the state of the present and potential future of the country in these eyes.

I assure you, dear viewer, that all these shots are taken in good faith with the children's consent. I hope this collection serves as a way of preserving the youthful spirit of these children that embody innocence and maturity.

Growing up in a country abundantly blessed with highlands has held me back from perceiving and appreciating the majesty of mountains. "The Mountains of Shewa" is a collection of my favorite vistas of the Mountain ranges in the North Shewa zone gathered from two separate trips in different seasons. That is why there is an apparent distinction as a result of fog in a wet season and clear skies in the drier season.

This area sits at about 3,400 meters above sea level and has been a historically important, strategic location. I hope these photos convey the sense of vastness, tranquility, and awe one experiences when visiting the mountains of Shewa.

Gaps and empty spaces are special areas of interest for me. I feel no dissatisfaction or resentment towards them as I consider them necessary. We can only occupy what is vacant, we can only inhabit what can accommodate us. An empty room represents possibilities, a hole in a ceiling signals hope, and a tunnel with an end symbolizes freedom.

I observe the manifestations of these themes in daily life. I enjoy beholding often crowded spaces in their rare emptiness. I can express my voyeuristic desires by looking at what others hardly imagine, let alone witness.

Gaps let in light and allow for anything to flow. Empty spaces are channels for passage and vessels of containment. I believe we can work on our relationship with voids and emptiness to find contentment in potential.

The Deserted Arcade explores the echoes of buzzing activity at a local arcade. Empty and bleak, the space has remnants of a place filled with energy, conviviality, competition, and what not.

I visited the place with a friend of mine and played a few rounds of pool without a single person setting foot in the space. I took my time also photographing everything else which is how this collection was born.