Behind the lens

Here’s a selection of animals, birds and landscapes photos taken in different parts of Ethiopia. I thought I’d share a few of them with you- I hope you like them.

Long-crested eagle perches on a pole, crest waving in wind.
The remarkably long, feathered crest possessed by the aptly named long-crested eagle, is this unmistakable bird of prey’s most striking feature. My bird guide book tells me it is a relatively small eagle with dark brown to black plumage, long, white feathered legs, and a well barred tail. With the broad, rounded wings spread in flight, patches of white are conspicuous at the base of the primaries.
(Photo taken by Søren Kristensen, a Danish ornithologist that I’ve had a chance to accompany to the northern and western part of Ethiopia).

Photos of the day

It is the summer vacation for students in Addis Ababa where family-oriented indoor and outdoor special activities aren’t in abundance. But that doesn’t mean there are not things to do for the youngsters in the city. Here, brothers and sisters are shown playing billiards in a bar near the Shi Solomon Supermarket in front of the National Theatre, mostly reserved for grownups.

An Ethiopian Muslim bride wearing a white dress and veil smiles for the camera at the door steps of the Semen Hotel. Her bridesmaids were wearing sparkling bright dress. The event was an intimate gathering of family and friends in one of the oldest hotels in Addis.

A rain soaked afternoon in Addis Ababa.

A woman dressed in white full-skirted dress and loosely woven netela and carrying a decorated walking stick coming poses for a photo on her way back from church in Gofa area, Addis Ababa.

A monk dressed in bedspread, with yellow hat and carrying picture of Virgin Mary and baby Jesus on his shoulder asks young church goers to raise their hands in prayer in Gofa Gabriel church in Addis Ababa. You can see marks of old age whcih are etched all over his face.

She’s a woman (Photo Journal)

Here are random pictures of women that I have taken in different parts of Ethiopia. The portraits reveal the beauty and diversity of the women and their fabulous clothes. The pictures have never been published before and I’m sure you will find them of interest.

A traffic policewoman stands in the street of Konso Karat.
Though traditionally considered as unsuitable job for a woman, females are increasingly gaining admittance into police force. Young traffic policewomen are a common sight in many towns of Ethiopia.

A young lady in full-sleeved hand-woven fabrics photographed on Easter Day in Lal Hotel, Woldia.Her dress is embroidered with the cross motif typical of the Christian highlands.The waitress is gorgeous with her intricate braids.

Holy Week in Aksum -Photos

For Christians Holy Week, the Week of Pains (Himamat) is the week which precedes the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. The week starts on Palm Sunday or Hosanna, when devotees celebrate Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. It is celebrated with the proper ceremonies with palms, processions and special services. For some, from Thursday afternoon until Easter morning no morsel of food nor a drop of water enters the mouth and the three days are known as ”Qanona”.Men and women go to church to prostrate themselves, remaining there from early morning till 3 P.M the hour of Jesus Christ. Believers confess their greater and lesser offenses to the confessor or sit reading their Psalter.
In Aksum’s Church of Our Virgin Mary of Zion, celebrations for Holy Week are often spectacular. Here are some random photos taken from the occasions.