NAME: Ismail Jelan Hamadi

AGE: 24-Year-old

NATIONALITY: Somali Bantu

INTEREST: Cinematography & Photography

"My greatest dream is to become a top photographer, telling stories and moving people through my photography."

My interest in photography sparked when I began editing. Before taking photos, I would receive unedited pictures, and I was curious how to edit them myself. I searched for tutorials online and started practising on my phone. Realising it was relatively easy, I learned the basics and built up from there. From there, I automatically thought, 'Why not start taking photos, too?'

 I was inspired by Abdul Patient and Yannik Rhuhimbasa, photographers in my community who took great photos making headlines locally. My dream of becoming a photographer like them grew inside of me, and I continued studying through YouTube tutorials and practising on my own using my phone. I am very passionate about photography, which pushed me to keep working hard and improving. I started the MC Touchez photography page in 2019 and bought myself a second-hand camera in 2020. I love photography because it can tell a story; even without an explanation, you can understand it just by looking.

 I currently work in a studio where I do both photography and filmmaking. So far, I have gained a large following on my page, shot seven music videos and three movies, and won second prize for the Photography Excellence Award during the 2024 FilmAid Annual Art and Exhibition. But I aim to reach a higher level in this field, so I joined the FilmAid media class. This class is an excellent chance for me to improve my photography skills. For instance, although I know the basics, I want to learn more about the technical aspects like framerates, ISO, and aperture. I am also eager to learn new filmmaking skills, such as scriptwriting.

 Apart from continuing to work in my studio, I would also like to work for Film Aid to help with their mission. My dream is also to create a documentary about the village my mother came from in Mogambo, Somalia, showing the life and experiences of its people. I also want to become one of the most prominent photographers, covering everything from fashion, beauty, street, and sports to weddings. My biggest dream is for people to see my work and say, 'This is the work of MC Touchez.'

Socials: 

Instagram: @mc_tochez_photography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071156244699 

Email: mctouchezphotography@gmail.com