Two figures move through a highland landscape, their white shawls catching the only light the frame allows. The grass is dark, the hillside darker still. A vast, indifferent slope dwarfs them without diminishing them. Mid-conversation or mid-silence, it is hard to say which. Their faces remain partially obscured. What appears instead is the measured pace of walking across uneven ground. The figures seem less posed than encountered, suspended between transit and ritual. The landscape receives them quietly, as one receives weather, a memory, or prayer.
— Olaniyi Omiwale
I chose this photograph because it captures a quiet moment of spiritual journey and daily life at Debre Libanos Monastery in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. What drew me to the scene was the contrast between the vast landscape and the small white figures climbing the mountain early in the morning. I was interested in the feeling of silence, devotion, and movement within the landscape, and I felt this moment expressed that naturally.
My approach to photography is observational and patient. I prefer to spend time in a place, understand its rhythm, and let moments unfold naturally instead of forcing them. I focus on timing, light, and human presence within the environment, especially in documentary situations. I’m drawn to authenticity, real moments that aren’t staged or directed, but simply experienced as they are.
I think photography is impactful because it preserves real moments that would otherwise disappear. It can show how people live, move, and believe in different environments. A single image can hold information, emotion, and context at the same time, and it helps others see and understand a reality they were not physically part of. For me, photography turns lived experiences into something visible, lasting, and meaningful.
Sosina Mengistu is a photographer and visual storyteller based in Ethiopia. Her work explores culture, diversity, religion, and everyday life, with a particular focus on the relationship between people, spirituality, and nature. Working in a documentary approach, she observes moments as they unfold naturally, aiming to capture authenticity, lived experience, and emotional depth with clarity and sensitivity. See more of Sosina Mengistu’s work on her website and on her Instagram.
