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Table of Contents

Interview with Messay Shoakena

Coffee Shops of Milan and Liverpool

A Night at Sixth Street in Austin, Texas

The 50mm Exercise

Street Shooters of Issue 36

Interview with Messay Shoakena

Messay has been on an interesting journey that has taken him all around the globe. He’s lived in Ethiopia, Madagascar, Kenya, Cameroon and the United States, giving him an international perspective on life.

Messay loves to shoot on sunny days in the late afternoon. This gives his work a very distinctive look with long shadows and sharp contrast. He talked to us about the work/photography balance, his background and finding his own voice.

To listen in to our audio interview with Messay, click the audio player below:

http://spm-media.s3.amazonaws.com/MessayShoakena-interview.mp3

A Selection of Messay’s Photos

Messay’s Favorite Places to Shoot in Washington, D.C.

  • The area around H and 7th Streets near the Metro Center Metro stop
  • Union Station
  • U Street area

Messay’s Greatest Influence

  • Alex Webb

Messay Shoakena

Based in Washington, D.C., Messay is a freelance photographer who grew up in Ethiopia, Madagascar, Kenya, Cameroon and the United States. Through his travels to various countries, he has developed a strong appreciation of different cultures and their beauty which he shares through his images. In addition to several online publications and blogs, his photography work has been featured in the The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Washington Examiner,Der Spiegel Magazine and The Ford Foundation. He enjoys learning and experimenting with both the creative and technical aspects of photography and is available for various types of assignments. He can be contacted at messay(at)gmail(dot)com

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Articles
May 2016

Interview with Messay Shoakena

Washington, D.C. based street photographer talks about his technique, work/photography balance, and more

Coffee Shops of Milan and Liverpool

Two talented photographers share and compare their coffee shop perspectives in Milan and Liverpool

A Night at Sixth Street in Austin, Texas

Koushik Upadhyayula explores Sixth Street in Austin, while shooting the streets for the first time

The 50mm Exercise

Eduardo Mueses' exercise will help you examine your composition and find the perfect lens for your style

Street Shooters of Issue 36

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