Current Digital Nomad Photographer
Lets Review the World from my lens
Dear World,
Welcome to Kelebet's Travel Photography Blog! 🌍📸
Before photography, before passports filled with stamps, and before flight plans and checklists, there was a child fascinated by flight. I grew up folding paper airplanes, building model planes from scratch, and dreaming of the skies long before I ever understood the physics behind them. My father used to take us to Bole International Airport in Ethiopia just to watch airplanes take off and land — and even then, the magic never faded.
Years later, after traveling to 16 countries and counting, that sense of wonder remains unchanged. No matter how many times I board a plane or watch one lift off the runway, the physics of flight — how something so heavy can rise, glide, and return safely to earth — never gets old. That lifelong curiosity eventually led me here: documenting my journey toward becoming a private pilot, while continuing to explore the world through a lens.
This vlog and blog are my way of journaling both paths — flight training and global travel — as they intersect. I would like you to embark on a photographic odyssey with me as I traverse the globe, capturing moments that resonate with the soul. From the bustling streets of vibrant cities to the serene landscapes of remote corners, this space chronicles my journey as a digital nomad, aspiring pilot, and passionate photographer.
My love affair with photography began during a study-abroad experience that first ignited my travel bug. Since then, travel has evolved from a passion into a way of life. As a project manager and master’s candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder, studying Data Science, I’ve been fortunate to work and study remotely — allowing me to explore new destinations while refining my creative eye behind the lens. This blog is more than a collection of images and flight logs. It is a testament to the transformative power of exploration, discipline, and lifelong curiosity. Each photograph and each flight tells a story of growth, challenge, and discovery — whether capturing the vibrant energy of European and Southeast Asian markets, the quiet majesty of the Alps, or the focused solitude of a cockpit at sunset.
Join me as I navigate the world — sometimes from the ground, sometimes from the sky — with my Canon EOS RP, smartphone, and flight checklist close at hand. From the cobblestone streets of Rome to the approach lights of a small municipal airport, this is a journey shaped by travel, aviation, photography, and learning.
Here’s to curiosity that begins in childhood and never lets go.
Here’s to the skies above and the stories below.
Let’s explore the world together — one photograph, one flight, and one lesson at a time.
Warm regards,
Kelebet Engida
Private Pilot Vlogs
My Private Pilot Solo Flight | First Time Alone in the Sky
This video captures one of the biggest milestones of my life — my first solo flight during Private Pilot License (PPL) training at Auburn Municipal Airport (S50). It was a calm evening with smooth winds, golden sunset lighting, and perfect weather — the kind of day every student pilot hopes for. What started as a routine touch-and-go pattern practice suddenly turned into something unforgettable when my instructor stepped out and said the words every student pilot waits for:
“You’re good — take it around yourself.”
In that moment, I was completely alone in the cockpit.
This video includes:
- Pattern work leading up to the solo
- The actual first solo takeoff and landing
- Presolo practice footage at the end
- The raw experience of flying solo for the first time
I had struggled earlier in training with centerline control and finding the correct sight picture on landing, but through focused instruction and targeted practice, those challenges were resolved — making this solo possible. The fear was real and indescribable. There was no cockpit audio recorded, but throughout the entire pattern I was talking to myself, leaning on my training, checklists, and muscle memory to stay calm and focused.
This flight was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done — and easily one of the biggest highlights of my life in 2025.
To every student pilot out there: trust your training. It works.
Second Sunset Touch-and-Go Practice
Second Sunset, Stronger Confidence
There’s something about flying at sunset that sharpens both focus and reflection. This was my second sunset touch-and-go practice, and it marked a turning point in my training — not because everything was perfect, but because something finally clicked. This flight wasn’t about chasing hours or checking boxes. It was about precision, confidence, and trusting the fundamentals.
Touch-and-Goes: Where Fundamentals Are Refined
Touch-and-go practice compresses the entire flight cycle into a continuous rhythm: approach, landing, rollout, takeoff — repeat. There’s no pause to reset mentally. You’re forced to stay present.
During this session, I focused intentionally on:
- Holding centerline alignment during landing rollout
- Maintaining directional control through power application
- Smooth, deliberate transitions from landing to takeoff
Early in training, it’s easy to overcorrect — hands too busy, feet reacting late, eyes chasing instead of anticipating. This time, I slowed my inputs down and let the airplane tell me what it needed.
That made all the difference.
The Confidence Shift
Midway through the session, I noticed something subtle but important:
I wasn’t fighting the airplane anymore.
My centerline control felt intentional instead of reactive. On takeoff, I was aligned earlier, tracking straighter, and feeling the feedback through the pedals rather than guessing. On landing, my eyes were finally where they needed to be — far down the runway — instead of fixated on the nose. That’s when confidence started to build.
Not loud confidence. Not ego.
The quiet kind that says: I understand what’s happening, and I know how to respond.
Why Sunset Flights Matter
Flying at sunset adds a layer of challenge and beauty. The lighting changes quickly, shadows stretch across the runway, and depth perception shifts. It demands more awareness — and rewards it.
As the sky softened and the horizon glowed, each circuit felt calmer and more controlled. The repetition wasn’t exhausting; it was grounding. Each landing reinforced the last.
Progress Isn’t Always Obvious — Until It Is
Aviation has a way of teaching patience. Some lessons take time to settle in. Others arrive suddenly after dozens of repetitions.
This flight reminded me that progress often shows up quietly:
- In smoother control inputs
- In earlier corrections instead of late reactions
- In confidence built from consistency, not perfection
Flying at Night: PPL Night Training in a Cessna 172 | Auburn to Paine Field
This video documents one of the required night flights for my Private Pilot License (PPL) training in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. We depart from Auburn Municipal Airport (S50) and fly north through the Puget Sound area, making stops at Arlington Municipal Airport and Paine Field, where we practice multiple touch-and-go landings under night conditions.
Night flying brings a completely different perspective to aviation — from cockpit lighting and instrument scans to visual illusions and runway identification. This flight was a great learning experience in managing workload, maintaining situational awareness, and building confidence flying after sunset. Whether you’re a student pilot, aviation enthusiast, or just curious about what PPL training looks like at night, I hope you enjoy the ride.
My First Long Cross-Country Flight (S50 → Skagit → Bremerton → S50)
This vlog documents my first long cross-country flight during Private Pilot training — a three-leg journey that tested every part of my preparation, decision-making, and endurance as a student pilot. The footage in this video was captured during training flights, but the takeoffs and landings shown are from my actual long cross-country. The vlog itself focuses on the first leg, from Auburn Municipal Airport (S50) to Skagit Regional Airport, which was both exciting and eye-opening.
The day before the flight, I built and submitted a full flight plan to my instructor for review and approval. On the morning of the flight, I arrived early for a thorough preflight inspection, weather briefing, and final planning before departure. The takeoff from S50 was smooth, and the flight north was incredible. I navigated through Tacoma’s Class D airspace, passed near downtown Bellevue, and carefully worked around the complex Class B airspace surrounding Sea-Tac. I flew over Paine Field (PAE) at 6,000 feet before beginning my descent into Skagit about four miles out.
After landing at Skagit, the flight took an unexpected turn. Weather along my next leg to Bremerton Airport dropped into IFR conditions. Since I’m only authorized for VFR, I made the decision to ground myself at Skagit and wait. After nearly three hours, conditions improved enough to continue safely. The arrival into Bremerton was challenging — shifting winds coming off the mountains and a busy pattern made situational awareness critical. After landing and taking a short break, I departed for the final leg back to S50, completing the full long cross-country requirement.
This flight taught me more than I expected:
- Flight planning and approval
- Using an electronic flight bag in real-world conditions
- Navigating complex airspace
- Weather risk management and decision-making
- The importance of patience and discipline
The entire day took over seven hours, and the mental workload was intense. Staying hyper-focused, anticipating airspace restrictions, weather changes, and potential emergencies was exhausting. Afterward, I slept nearly 14 hours straight — a powerful reminder of how essential rest and fatigue management are for pilots making sound decisions. This flight wasn’t just about logging hours. It was about learning how to think like a pilot.
