The earth often makes its wonders accessible. An untroubled river, a hilly shore, the faint border of sky across this picture. Then, the men and their gentle arrangements. Each to his own labour. These labours—rowing, holding up, holding still—indicate beauty, yet also consecration. Few ceremonies of reverence occur in public, and so we must attend to those we see with the attentiveness of new devotees.
— Emmanuel Iduma
I took this photograph in Ziway in Ethiopia.
Along with many talented photographers, I was asked to take part in a trip to document the traditional/religious Epiphany ceremony at Lake Ziway. We were all on a boat facing the priests carrying the ark of the covenant. This is a ceremony where the priest carries the ark from one island to the next. It is a very peaceful and colourful sight.
I like this photo because it is unique, as opposed to the usual Epiphany celebration photos normally taken during the holiday.
My approach to photography is to enjoy it. I don't stress too much about the techniques. I just shoot and make sure I fully engage with the moment.
Photography is a powerful tool to engage with people, to reflect on emotions, to document our times.
— Fua Bilich
Fua Bilich is on Instagram. See more work on her Adobe portfolio. She is also part of the Centre for Photography in Ethiopia.
