Frehiwet Abebe: Ethiopian photographer capturing faith, emotion, and everyday life through candid images

Frehiwet Abebe is an Ethiopian photographer and laboratory technologist based in Addis Ababa. A devoted Orthodox Christian, she is drawn to candid moments, particularly within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, where faith, tradition, architecture, and everyday human experience meet.

Her photography focuses on genuine moments and emotions, from religious gatherings and street scenes to the people, places, and details that catch her attention. She prefers natural environments and light, allowing moments to unfold without directing or posing them.

Photography has become a personal journey for Abebe as well. As she has developed her practice, it has helped her become more comfortable around people and more confident in photographing the world around her. She continues to build her practice alongside her work as a laboratory technologist, keeping her passion for photography alive through every image she makes.

How did you get started in photography?

Back when I was at university, my friends and I were waiting in line to fill our jars. There was a big building beside us, and the sun was setting just above it. I thought it made a beautiful view, so I took a picture and showed it to my friends. They appreciated the photograph, and I thought, “Okay.”

After that day, I started taking pictures randomly, although I was not sure whether I had a talent for photography. Then I took a photograph at a monastery while we were on a religious vacation. It was the first photograph that made me feel I had something in photography.

When I showed it to people, they asked who had taken it and admired the image. Some thought it looked as though it had been taken by someone with a lot of experience. That was the moment I began to believe I could have something of my own in photography. I have been taking photographs ever since.

How would you describe yourself?

I am a short, sociable person with a good sense of humour. I love talking to new people, especially photographers, and I enjoy showing my work and talking about photography.

What are the main themes that inspire your photography?

I am especially interested in photographing at church because I feel that people are more genuine there. They can be more themselves without worrying about anything else. They are simply present in the moment.

I am mainly inspired by candid moments at church because they show real faith, peace, emotion, and worship. I enjoy observing those moments and preserving them through photography.

I want people who look at my photographs to feel something genuine from the moment I captured. The image should allow them to connect with the emotion and atmosphere of the scene.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?

I am still at an early stage in my photography journey, so I think of the smaller moments as important achievements.

Receiving compliments from friends and other photographers makes me proud. I have also been asked by friends to photograph their graduations, baby showers, and other events. A photography teacher once told me that I had a good eye and a strong perspective, and that encouragement stayed with me.

Another moment I remember was when I uploaded a photograph to a Facebook page where photographers shared their work and received feedback. The photograph received more than 1,000 likes in less than an hour. It was a small moment, but it made me very happy and encouraged me to keep going.

These moments have given me confidence as I continue to learn and develop as a photographer.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a photographer?

Being a female photographer in Ethiopia has sometimes made photographing in public spaces intimidating. Photography is not always seen as a career here, and being a woman behind the camera can attract attention. There have been times when I have felt uncomfortable with crowds staring at me while I was taking photographs.

I have also become more introverted at certain points in my life, so the attention from strangers was difficult for me at first. Over time, my love for photography became stronger than my fear of being watched. I continued taking the photographs I wanted to make.

Eventually, I became more comfortable with the attention and learned to focus on the image I wanted to create. That experience has helped me grow and has pushed me to challenge myself with every photograph.

Photography has given me the pleasure of making images, while also helping me become more comfortable around people.

What type of photography do you specialise in?

I currently focus on Ethiopian Orthodox Church and religious photography, alongside street and candid photography.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, with traditions, practices, architecture, and paintings that have been preserved over generations. I find beauty in the details, from the crosses on the tops of churches to the objects used during religious ceremonies, many of which carry deep biblical meaning.

As a believer in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and a photographer, I want to share this beauty through my images.

Street and candid photography also allow me to observe people's genuine feelings. A candid photograph carries a different meaning because it shows a real moment. Since the subject is not posed, viewers can connect with the emotion of the moment more naturally.

What is your primary commercial niche?

My primary focus is religious and cultural photography, particularly Ethiopian Orthodox Church photography, alongside street and candid photography. I would also welcome opportunities to work on cultural documentary projects and publications.

What is your unique technical or visual approach?

My visual approach is mainly candid and documentary. I want my photographs to feel natural and tell a story, so I prefer working with natural environments and light, real moments, and genuine emotions in everyday life.

I want the people and places in my photographs to feel present and authentic. The image should retain the atmosphere of the moment rather than feeling overly directed.

Which global brands, photographers, or industries do you feel your work aligns with most?

My work aligns most closely with documentary and street photography, particularly the work associated with National Geographic, Magnum Photos, and Steve McCurry.

I am drawn to photographers and organisations that document traditions, cultures, people, nature, cities, travel, and everyday life. Their approach to storytelling and observation is close to what I want to develop in my own photography.

I would especially like to work on projects or publications connected to cultural documentary photography.

How is the photography and art space in Ethiopia?

The photography and art space in Ethiopia is developing, and there has been growing interest in photography in recent years. Since 2015 E.C., more art galleries have opened, including Artawi Gallery, while photographers have gained opportunities to share their work through workshops, exhibitions, talks, libraries, and other creative spaces.

These developments have helped photography gain recognition as an artistic and documentary practice. Social media has also created more opportunities for photographers to share their images, with photography communities active across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but the photography scene is growing and has more opportunities than it did in the past.

What is one professional standard you never compromise on?

Privacy, respect, and authenticity.

I mostly photograph in churches, so respecting the people and moments I capture is very important to me. I want my photographs to remain genuine and true to the moment while respecting the privacy and dignity of the people in them.

What do you think of the 54Ruum platform?

I really like 54Ruum. I discovered it on Instagram a few days before I was contacted, when I saw a photographer from Ethiopia featured in one of the posts.

I was surprised to find a platform where Ethiopian photographers and beginners could share their work. I think it is important to have spaces where photographers can be discovered, especially when they are still developing their practice.