A Young Photographer Captures Ethiopia’s Changing Landscape
At just 24, Amanuel Tilahun has built his life around a camera lens. His journey into photography began eight years ago, armed with nothing more than a cell phone his parents had bought him.
“That phone became my first camera—and my teacher,” he said, recalling the early days when he spent hours photographing everyday scenes around Addis Ababa. Each shot, he added, trained his eye to notice light, texture, and emotion—the subtle details that would later define his work.
In 2021, Amanuel joined Board Cellphone (BC), a local collective that helped shape his creative direction and refine his technical skills. “The experience exposed me to new ways of seeing,” he said. “It helped me understand my own potential as a photographer.”
His time with BC opened new doors, including participation in major public showcases such as the Tecno Ethiopia Photo Exhibition. The exhibition became a turning point in his career, allowing him to share his interpretation of Ethiopia’s people and landscapes with a wider audience.
The show followed a photography trip organized by BC and Tecno Mobile, taking participants through Harar, Dire Dawa, Kududo Mountain, and back to Addis Ababa. Over the course of the journey, Amanuel captured more than 40 images that highlighted the country’s dramatic landscapes, vibrant traditions, and the daily rhythms of its communities.
Two of his photographs stood out for their emotional depth and composition. One depicted wild horses galloping across the plateau of Kududo Mountain, with fellow photographers racing behind them—a fleeting, cinematic moment. Another framed the colorful streets of Harar, layered with meaning that, in Amanuel’s words, “goes beyond the visible scene.”
For Amanuel, the exhibition was not just a showcase—it was an affirmation. His work, seen by more than 5,000 visitors, invited audiences to experience Ethiopia through his lens. “My images tell stories of faces and movements that words cannot express,” he told The Reporter. “It was also a chance to show the quality of my craft.”
That spirit of creative exploration continued this year. On October 11, 2025, Tecno Ethiopia, in partnership with BC, hosted the Camon 40 Series Promotion and Photo Exhibition at the Addis International Convention Centre. Featuring more than 250 photographs captured with Tecno’s latest camera innovation, the exhibition blended technology and artistry in one space.
The event brought together established and emerging photographers—including Amanuel—whose works reflected scenes from across Ethiopia. Visitors of all ages wandered through the exhibit, discovering stories told in light and color. For the organizers, the event was more than a celebration of photography; it was a bridge between technology and creativity, giving young visual storytellers the tools to reimagine how Ethiopia is seen.
For Henok Solomon, public relations manager at Tecno Ethiopia, the Camon 40 Photo Exhibition was more than a product showcase—it was a celebration of creativity through technology.
“The exhibition marked a milestone in the collaboration between innovation and art,” Henok said. “It served as a platform to promote photographic work created through mobile technology, while also celebrating Ethiopia’s visual diversity through the eyes of its photographers.”
Organized in partnership with Board Cellphone’s photography team, the exhibition was designed to encourage exploration—both artistic and geographic. “We wanted the public to see their country through local photographers’ perspectives,” Henok said. “By sending the team to different regions and letting them capture images with their phones, we hoped to inspire others to travel and appreciate the beauty around them.”
This year’s event marked the second edition of the exhibition open to the general public in Addis Ababa. The first was held a year ago with the program showcasing around 80 photographs taken in Arba Minch and Awassa, highlighting the landscapes and communities of Ethiopia’s southern regions.
The broader goal, he explained, is to spark public curiosity about Ethiopia’s cultural and natural diversity while demonstrating the capabilities of Tecno’s Camon camera series. The recent exhibition featured the work of more than 20 photographers who completed a week-long photo tour through various regions, taking about 10 days in total to capture their images.
Beyond this particular collaboration, the team continues to document life across Ethiopia. “Recently, they traveled to the Gurage region during the Meskel holiday to capture local traditions and celebrations,” Henok noted. These tours, he added, are part of an ongoing effort to tell diverse stories through photography.
Encouraged by strong public engagement, Henok said they plan to organize more exhibitions in the coming years. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “This year’s turnout was significantly higher than last year’s, with many visitors coming specifically to view the photographs.”
For Amanuel, the exhibition also signaled a personal milestone. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue developing his craft as a full-time photographer and to reach wider audiences through his work. “My goal is to become a well-known photographer and to hold my own exhibitions,” he said.
Every photograph, he believes, is a fragment of a larger story—one that connects people to the landscapes and communities around them. For young photographers like Amanuel, exhibitions such as the Camon 40 Photo Exhibition offer more than visibility; they provide a space to exchange ideas, refine technique, and explore how everyday scenes can become art.
