“I know I’ve got the shot when I feel a strong connection to the moment before me,” says photographer Fatma Almosa in an interview with the Phoblographer. “It’s an instinct where everything lines up—the light, the composition, and the subject’s expression. In those moments, I can sense that the photograph conveys the emotion or story I want to share.” Farma is both a documentary photographer and a fine art photographer. When you put the two together and view it through the lens of black and white, you’re bound to experience a flirtatious pull that turns into romance.
This article is presented in partnership with Leica. Check out her Leica story. All images by Fatma Almosa and used with permission. For more, please check out her Instagram @fatma.almosa.
Falling in Love with Photography
Fatma’s love story with photography began when she was a child. She was always curious about their meanings and the feelings that photos make. Then, she got a Leica Q in 2015. Fatma later upgraded to a Leica M and kept exploring the art form. “I primarily use the Leica M Monochrom because it truly brings black and white photography to life,” she tells us. “The power of its design removes the distraction of color, allowing viewers to focus on the subject, as well as the textures, shapes, patterns, and composition of my images.” She feels it helps her work seem timeless. Paired with a few Summlux, APO, and Noctilux lenses, Fatma makes what she believes are more emotional and engaging images.
She does moderate edits in her post-production and gets most of the magic done in-camera. “I value editing software, but I aim to ensure that the final result remains true to the moment I captured,” she tells us. It’s also reinforced by her ideas that emotions and stories can’t be replaced by AI. “While AI can create visually appealing images, it often lacks the emotional depth and storytelling that come from a photographer’s personal experiences. This can blur the lines between what is considered as a ‘real’ art and just content.” Fatma keeps this in mind as she makes her work.
The Creative Vision
Of course, Fatma is infatuated with black-and-white photography. And so are many others! Once it was thought of as a way to make any image look better and many circles looked down on it for that reason. But things have changed — and folks realize why it’s so important to what we do as photographers. “My creative vision combines both documentary and abstract art,” she tells us. “In my documentary work, I capture real moments that tell a story and reflect human experiences. For example, a photo of a street musician shows emotions about passion, struggle, and community.” It’s a major part of how she connects with others.
At the same time, she’s really in love with abstract work that puts light, shape and textures at the front. These details are often unnoticed by others. It can be something as small as a shadow and how the light moves across a surface. “For instance, a close-up shot of desert dunes highlights the curves and textures of the sand, turning a simple landscape into something special like art piece,” she says. “In these moments, I let my creativity flow, concentrating on evoking emotions and creating an interesting mood.” She switches between styles, which she feels helps make her creative vision so unique to her.
Most of the magic happens in-camera, while I’m taking the picture. I try to get everything just right, from exposure to framing, to catch that perfect moment. I believe it’s important to capture the scene as authentically as possible. Using my camera and lenses helps me fully engage with my surroundings.
Fatma Almosa
Finding Joy in Photography
Fatma is what we call a passionate photographer: someone who does the art form and genuinely loves it. And like so many others, she finds joy in photography. This joy manifests itself through exploring light and shadow in her work. Some of it is candid moments on the streets or landscapes. Sometimes, she’ll also try different techniques. “Finding unique compositions and expressing emotions through monochrome has become very fulfilling for me,” she states. “Another source of joy is connecting with other photographers, sharing experiences, and learning from each other. Whether through online communities or local meet-ups, exchanging ideas helps me grow as an artist.”
Beyond this, she loves seeing how people react to her work. This combination of internal and external validation helps make her an incredible shooter. Part of that manifestation is due to Leica and the way the cameras make her feel. Fatma loves the quality and how precise it lets humans be.
“Leica stands out because of its attention to detail in both cameras and lenses,” Fatma says. “The build quality gives me the confidence to focus on my photography without worrying about my gear. The manual controls and classic design enhance my creative process, allowing me to capture meaningful moments.” On top of this, she’s genuinely smitten with the lenses and how they help her achieve her creative vision.
Authenticity Statement about Fatma Almosa
As part of the Content Authenticity Initiative, The Phoblographer works with human photographers to verify that they’ve actually created their work through shoots. These are done by providing us assets such as BTS captures, screenshots of post-production, extra photos from the shoot, etc. We do this to help our readers realize that this is authentically human work. Here’s what this photographer provided for us.
