Samuel Girma: Ethiopian multi-niche photographer capturing everyday life and unseen stories | 54Ruum Spotlight

Samuel Girma is a talented Ethiopian photographer based in Hosaena, Ethiopia. He is from Chancho and is currently pursuing a degree in civil engineering at Wachemo University. His passion for photography was ignited during the COVID-19 lockdown when he took his first photograph on his mother’s phone, inspired by his friend's reaction.

As a multi-niche photographer, Samuel captures a wide range of subjects, including nature, people, and everyday life. He believes in the mantra “Capture the moment rather than script,” reflecting his emphasis on storytelling and emotion over rigid genres. Through his lens, he aims to document the often-overlooked stories of Ethiopia with honesty and authenticity.

A significant milestone in Samuel's career occurred in 2025, when he won the Wiki Loves Folklore Ethiopia competition for his photograph of the Victory of Awda Celebration in Hosaena. He is primarily self-taught and continues to develop his skills through experimentation, personal experience, and community engagement, focusing on observation, presence, and cultural authenticity in his work.

How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

My name is Samuel Girma. I was born and raised in Chancho, Ethiopia, and I am currently a civil engineering student at Wachemo University in Hosaena. I discovered my passion for photography during the COVID-19 lockdown, using my mother’s phone. This single moment ignited this deep interest in capturing images.

Today, I use my lens to photograph nature, people, and everyday life, telling the unseen and untold stories of Ethiopia for the world to see. My belief guides me: “Capture the moment more than script it.”

How did you first get into photography?

I actually started photography back during the COVID lockdown. All I had to work with was my mom's phone, and I remember the very first thing I shot was just a simple leaf. When I showed it to my friend Kenasa, his reaction totally encouraged me — it gave me the push I needed to really go for it.

Since then, I've been capturing everything from nature and portraits to the little moments in between. I've genuinely fallen in love with seeing the world through a lens.

What type(s) of photography do you specialise in, and why did you choose this niche?

I'm yet to have just a niche of focus because I've never really wanted to box myself into one specific niche. The world is just too big and diverse for that! For me, it's all about exploring different perspectives. 

Whether I'm shooting nature or a portrait, I'm looking for the story and emotion behind the shot. If it makes you feel something, that's what matters.

Can you share the underlying themes or ideas that drive your photography?

I usually keep my work private, but I share some of it on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

What’s the one achievement or moment in your photography career that you’re most proud of?

One of my proudest achievements is winning Wiki Loves Folklore Ethiopia 2025, organised by the Ethiopian branch of Wikipedia, with my photograph titled “Victory of Awda Celebration in Hosaena, Ethiopia.”

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a photographer, and how did you overcome it? What did you learn from that experience?

My biggest challenge has been the lack of platforms to learn and explore photography. I overcame this by teaching myself, experimenting independently, and learning through shared experiences with friends.

If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be and why?

If I could collaborate with photographers, I would love to work with Peter McKinnon because of his knowledge and expertise. I also draw inspiration from photographers such as Aziz Ahmed, who explores many places including my local area, as well as Cold Aron Sime, Amanuel Sleshi, Abi Girma, and Abeni Tefera. Collaborating with them would be an incredible opportunity to share experiences and learn from their work.

What are your thoughts on the 54Ruum platform?

I believe the 54Ruum platform is a curated environment and a valuable space for photographers.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their photography journey, what would it be?

My advice would be to capture every moment, practise more than just studying theory, learn from those with experience, and always remember: capture the moment rather than script.