Emanuel’s creativity shines through in each frame, showcasing a distinctly different style in every submission. His photos capture the essence of the real world with a down-to-earth aesthetic that tells a compelling story from all walks of life.

-Yosef

Name: Emanuel Mogaya

Current All-Time Streak: 30

Joined 52Frames: 2020

Your “walk-around” gear right now:

Canon EOS 77D with a Tamron 24-70 2.8

The place you call home:

Tanzania

Your life in 30 words or less

Photographer, student, reader, writer, and painter. I love creativity. I enjoy seeing things come to life, from a photo on a camera to words on a page to colors on a canvas. In those moments I get to experience freedom and peace.

Can you share 2 images, one from your past, and one more recent, that shows your evolution as a photographer?

What has been your favorite style of shooting lately?

Lately, I’ve been gravitating toward headshots. I recently came upon a photographer whose work I like, and he shoots great headshots. His edits are also stellar; they seem to draw the viewer into the model’s eyes, becoming the primary focus. I think the eyes can tell a lot about a person. We all go through different things and express ourselves differently. I want to capture what the eyes are trying to say, and so that’s what I want to be focusing on moving forward.

What was the first photo you ever submitted to 52Frames?

How did you find out about 52Frames?

I was watching Fstoppers on YouTube and they mentioned a website where photographers do weekly challenges and I thought that would help motivate me to improve my craft.

What submission are you most proud of and why?

I’m proud of this photo because I was struggling with a good photo for a submission. This was the very first challenge for 2021. I think starting off strong is a great motivator to keep one going. So, I wanted to go with that mindset in mind. I feel like I did a good job capturing a photo worthy of the criteria above. I’ve also never tried studio photography, and I wanted to see if I could replicate that low-key, studio-like photography without spending a dime. The skylight in my attic was a life saver. I was also both model and photographer, hence my pride in how I was able to use natural light to sculpt my face, even to the point of creating the triangle on my right cheek. I might appear to be a little conceited, but you have to understand I was only a year into photography. I love how this turned out.

One tip you’d like to share?

Sometimes life can get hard, whether it’s the weather outside, lack of “good” tools, or feeling of not being good enough, or any excuse you tell yourself. I dare say it’s mostly about mindset. You can create something amazing with terrible conditions. Look at the bigger picture. Take a walk. Learn. Learn. Learn. Focus on why you are here.

Why is 52Frames meaningful to you?

52Frames challenges me to push myself every week, even when I don’t feel like doing it. It reminds me of why I started this in the first place—to be motivated and improve my craft. If nothing else, 52Frames is a place where I learn life lessons: to embrace my mistakes, to keep making those mistakes until I make it, and to show up, regardless of my feelings. Showing up sometimes puts you halfway at accomplishing something big. That’s something.

To view Emanuel’s profile on 52Frames, click here: