Ethiopia – Blessed Land

I left for Ethiopia in February feeling slightly overwhelmed and apprehensive.  Another new country I could deal with; it was the idea of my first foray into “people photography” that had me nervous.  I needn’t have worried.  Ethiopia turned out to be another trip I could add to my “Trip of a Lifetime” list.

What an incredible and diverse country.  The smells, the climate, the dust, the poverty, the beauty, the guns, the people, the laughter, the emotions, the corruption and the happiness all meld together in an intricate web of everyday, matter-of-fact life.

Ethiopia is not an easy country to describe, the weapons are ever-present, be that at cattle herding or a celebration.  Life is hard and tough and frightening and yet I left there feeling humbled, very blessed and knowing that I had just had an experience of a lifetime.

As the backdrop to my first “people” shots.  Ethiopia was a baptism of fire and I can only hope that my photographs have done justice to the beautiful and proud nation of Ethiopia.