Looking through lens to find himself

Noel Khan strongly believes it was his passion for photography that allowed him to find himself at a time when all looked bleak in the world of work for a young man who had not completed high school.

“I was an unemployed youth in Berbice, and it was my sister who explored ways in which I could make myself independent and basically introduced me to a field which I’ve grown to love dearly,” he told The Scene.

“I am fascinated by the beauty I capture in people and their situation in a split second and the smile it puts on their faces when they look at it. It is now a way of life for me. It’s what I breathe and how I make a living which is perfect because I am doing what I love so my passion is my profession and it has made me an independent man with a talent that many admire.”

His sister is Capitol News Online Editor Tracey KhanDrakes.

Noel dropped out of the Lower Corentyne Secondary School because he felt academics was not his forte. He recalled that he was somewhat in interested in Integrated Science because it challenged his thinking, but he never gave himself the chance to see where that interest could lead.

What sparked his interest, possibly more than the subject, were the girls at his school. He was a popular student and attracted them like a magnet, he said laughing, but added that it was nothing to boast about.

Though he didn’t quiet comprehend what he was doing when he walked away from completing his high school education, it didn’t take him long to realize what he had done when finding a job proved more difficult than he expected. When Tracey proposed taking photographs, Noel did not see that he had much of a choice since he was not doing anything else at the time. But his sister’s proposal turned out to be the best idea as before long, his curiosity got the better of him and he began learning more about photography.

To improve his skills, he spent many hours watching photography tutorials on YouTube and was then mentored by well-known Berbice photographer Andy Henry. On many occasions when Henry was covering events, he took Noel along with him, teaching him the ropes and giving him exposure.

Noel now works as the cameraman for News-inDepth/Royston Drakes Production in Berbice.

“It remains a daily challenge,” he said, “because this is a field that many young people are venturing into for many reasons and so it’s important to me that I stand out in the crowd as I continue to learn daily and work to perfect my craft. Some people complain about the price and that is a challenge at times, but I intend to overcome every obstacle.

“I was without a camera for almost a year and would borrow cameras to do shoots and every time I get a little bit of money, I started saving... It took me months and I had to make a lot of sacrifices; cutting down on my recreational spending and other things because I was serious about owning my own equipment. I was actually surprised at the extent to which I went to save that it made me more disciplined financially. It taught me a great lesson. Things can happen but it takes hard work, support and sacrifice. If I can do it, anyone can once they put their mind to it.”