Interviewed By: Aida Teklemariam

This September, I met photographer Zacharias Abubeker at a going away party in the Bole region of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Zach, the name he was introduced to me as, was instantly charming. He spoke with a big smile, engaged eye contact and politely deflected the conversation focused around his “amazing” photography to ask me, “So what do you do?”

If you’re not familiar with Abubeker’s photography, he has had stunning features in Selamta magazine and The New York Times. He has become popular for capturing an otherwise unknown glimpse of daily life in Ethiopia. In short, Zacharias is a proud Ethiopian consistently traveling the world, making everyday moments beautiful for a living.

Here’s a moment with the moment capturer himself, Zacharias Abubeker:

What led you to pursue photography as a career?

Well, honestly, I had no idea what else to do and photography was something I found as a hobby but took a course and started to get really into darkroom. After that I became a TA and got access to the lab with a key so I was basically there every free moment I got.

Film or digital and why?

Both. Film for personal projects and a few clients, digital for everything else. Digital to me can not match the quality of film, at least not yet, at an affordable price. Film also allows me to slow down and be more thoughtful about the scene, especially when shooting large format.

How do you believe amateur photographers can get noticed?

Hard work and dedication. Get your work out there and meet as many people as you can as often as you can. Develop your pitch in 4 sentences. Edit your work constantly. Always be hungry.

How has living in Ethiopia influenced your photography?

Living in Ethiopia has changed me in many ways. It has opened my eyes to the wider world. It has also allowed me to travel to places I never imagined I would be able to, and experience feelings and ideas that would not have come on unless I was here at this time. It’s a wildly changing place in constant motion so it’s really great to observe the change and transformation of a country first hand.

Zacharias currently resides in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Get familiar with his work at www.zachabubeker.com ..

1. Describe your hustle/brand.

I am a full time studio artist working on a non-figurative abstraction. I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and currently live in San Diego, California. I received Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting from the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University. I also traveled to Moscow for a yearlong art training at the Surikov Art Institute. My work experience is diverse from creating illustrations for children’s books at Macmillan to restoration of wall frescoes for Addis Ababa Holy Trinity Cathedral. As a full time studio artist, I actively participated in several solo and group exhibitions in the US, Ethiopia, and Europe including the African American Museum at Los Angeles.

2. Who are some of your influences?

Nature is my greatest influence. I carefully observe the surrounding environment and use it as a main drive to communicate with the viewer. Nature is a peaceful and complete place for me to experiment with ordinary materials in order to achieve extraordinary result. The materials that I use in my artwork are scraps found in surroundings. I manipulate them to build up layers and shapes that would carry beauty and emotion. I am into texture and it became part of an important element in my artwork. I also use the mix of wood, wire, plaxiglass, oil, acrylic and marker to achieve a subtle harmony for the entire composition.

3. What can we expect from you in the near future?

I work on the idea that can be developed and transformed through the continuous process. I am approaching three-dimensional surfaces in depth so that it can help me to bring unlimited possibilities to push my idea further. I am dedicating myself to create more artworks in a day-to-day basis. My recent finished art pieces are occupying the studio space so that I am planning to have some of the pieces displayed at the gallery space. My next plan is to produce an artwork that is stronger in concept and dipper in philosophy. I am also interested in going back to school and pursue a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art.

Website www.yohannesart.com
Instagram yohannesart
Facebook Yohannes Tesfaye Artist.