By Marissa V. Foster

NOEL Khan is an upcoming professional photographer from the ancient county of Berbice. He was raised and still lives in the small town of Rose Hall. The son of a cane cutter and a market vendor, he is proud of who he is and stressed that his parents did their best. They made much of what they could afford as his father struggled with substance abuse but he’s still a great father. Growing up in Rose Hall Town was quite the challenge, but he admits that being the youngest of seven children, he did not endure the same hardship his older siblings endured.

However, Khan is aware of what it feels like to be in need but has always prided himself in having his own and working hard for a better life. After dropping out of high school he was unable to get a job but was still determined to help his family so he did odd jobs here and there.

Dropping out of high school was due to many factors but he also admits that he felt academia wasn’t for him. His older sister Tracey Khan who has been in the media for almost 15 years is the driving force behind him being a photographer. After his unemployment for two years she encouraged him to dawn into it and become his own boss— there was no turning back after this.

Khan describes his journey thus far as being  “beautiful” and he’s loving every minute of it. He can meet many new people, travel and see beauty and purpose through so many lenses and angles. It can be challenging at times as well because sometimes people do not see the true value in his work. He explained that other photographers experience the same thing and people do not want to compensate for it. The work can be seasonal as well so he has to take it when it’s “in season.”

The inconsolable event of him losing his nephew was quite a challenge for him to journey through, Khan admitted. He was at an age where he understood death and felt its pain but the circumstances surrounding his death made it even harder to get past. He has lost loved ones before like when he lost his grandmother and grandfather but he barely remembered these events. Khan thanks God every day for the loving and supportive family he has.  God, prayers and time do make it easier as that was the most heartbreaking experience in his life.

He describes himself as being a very loving and fun person. He also loves to dance. He is quite out-going, brave, strong, hard-working and loves spending time with the people who matter the most— his family. A major accomplishment in life is being respected and recognised for his talent. He said that it feels good when people reach out to him and say, “I want to be a photographer just like you” or “your work inspired me” and he surely feels amazed that his work can be an inspiration to others.

In the future, he hopes to own his very own state of the art studio for photography and videography in Berbice. He also wants to travel the world and show its beauty through his camera lens. He wants to be in a  position where he can create employment and help other youths like himself who may be faced with similar situations. He sees it as an opportunity for them to enhance their quality of life.

His advice to young boys is, “Do not give up. Things will always get better. Believe in your self and Surround your self with people who drive and support your dreams and aspirations Stay focused on your goals and you will achieve it with hard work and determination. Seasons change so whatever bad you’re going through will come to an end. Do not fall into the temptations of the world.”