Senior Arjan Jawanda excelled as a Varsity Football player during the fall. Now that the season is over, he has now picked up the camera and started making an earning as a photographer. As the Scouts approach the heart of the basketball season, Arjan reflects on his current experience as a photographer, what brought him to it, what he likes about it, and what he expects for the future.
What led you to photography?
“I was honestly just looking for something to do after the season ended. I knew I wanted to be around sports, but more than just in the stands. I felt a need to be on the field.”
During football season you were the one being photographed. What’s it like being on the other side of the camera now?
“It’s definitely different. I’m not going to go out and say I’m awesome at this and I know it all, but I feel like being an athlete and getting four years of pictures means I have a decent idea of what athletes look for in photos.”
What is your favorite part of being a photographer?
“My favorite part is just being around people and learning from others. Joel and PreCoo have been a great help in learning the setting and the composition of photos.”
Is this something that you would recommend to other students? Why or why not?
“I would recommend it to students as a person who started a couple weeks ago. It’s definitely been a hard start, but I’m starting to get a hang of it. I would say it’s got a pretty penny associated with it.”
Along with playing football at Denison, is this something that you wish to continue there?
“I wouldn’t mind getting involved in Denison sports photography.”
What do you hope to capture in your pictures?
“I hope to capture action and emotion. I want to get athletes in the emotion of a game, celebrations after big plays, composure at a free throw line, things like that.”
How do you decide where to stand and where to aim the camera while you’re at games?
“Honestly I don’t really have a set place, I tend to bounce around 8-9 places a game. In photography it can be difficult to stand out so I just try to find a place that could be different from others.”
What’s one photo you have taken that holds the most meaning to you?
“Probably the intramural basketball photos, they have been fun to watch the games and take the photos, you get some pretty interesting shots.
What have you taken out of starting this new hobby?
“It’s one of those things where you will always be a student, constantly learning techniques, angles, and setting. It’s forever changing. I’ve also just added a love for sports, to see them up close and see the emotion behind them.”
