Today we’d like to introduce you to Ondre.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a Sacramento Native. I grew up in Sacramento, California.
It’s my hometown and I strive to represent the city and our people proudly.
I recently graduated from California State Sacramento with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. In college is where I discovered my love for art. I was originally a business major then switched my major a good few times before I landed on journalism.
My first few attempts at finding a creative passion was all over the place. I wanted to be a rapper at one point, a DJ, a graphic designer, then finally a photographer. Writing was also something I discovered to be a secret passion of mine. I fell in love with writing from regularly journaling in a little black notebook I had. In the notebook, I would journal my thoughts, dreams, poems and scribble naive illustrations.
I stumbled into photography in 2018 after I met Angel Chea, who is a photographer as well as a good friend of mine. We met through a mutual friend and clicked instantly. In his house were black and white photos of family, friends and streetlights. He was the first to introduce me to the beauty and possibilities in photography and I’ve never looked back since.
I thought it would be a cool way to meet girls. You know, taking photos of gorgeous models, rap concerts and celebrities. All that clout shit.
That feeling faded quickly after I started realizing the power and responsibilities of that photographers take on once they find the camera.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been relatively smooth externally speaking. Internally my journey with photography has been frustrating and confusing.
When you first begin to shoot, you’re all over the place. It’s a strange place because you haven’t shot enough to know what you want to shoot. Your experience with the camera is relatively new and fresh.
I’m only two years in on my photographic journey and my mind is still indecisive about the type of photographer I want to be.
Right now, I feel like people know me as a cool Instagram photographer. They see my photos, give a simple like, maybe a fire emoji if they really care. But that’s about it. Who wants to be known as just an Instagram photographer? I’m much more than that.
My current work is cool and all that. I’m trying to find a way to make my work LAST. A lot of photographers, even myself at times, can’t conceive their photos outside the boundaries of social media. Back in the day photography was more of a skill and a craft. Nowadays, the camera is abused and under-looked.
So, to conclude, it’s been rough. Though I enjoy all of it, the bumps, bruises, cuts and all… Without this deep introspection and interrogation, my photographs wouldn’t improve.
I always have that feeling: is what I’m shooting what I want to document? What does this photo have in relation to me and what I’m searching for.
I take a lot of inspiration from Black photographers, Gordon Parks and Carrie Mae Weems being a few examples. I want to be on that list of Black photographers and leverage my photographic skills to represent Black culture in a positive light. Make a change and give back to the community.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Tha Khan stands for any individual who wishes to be a leader in every aspect of life. No matter who you are or what you do being a leader is in you.
I’m trying to figure out how to make it an applicable philosophy. Something along the lines of individual cultivation.
I adopted the name Khan after reading about Genghis Khan and seeing that Khan meant ruler or leader in Arabic.
I specialize in photography, videography and writing. I do much more, or at least I hope to do so. I want to get into media production, marketing and personal development.
The camera and pen are mediums that allow me to express myself. They represent mediums of communication.
People know me as a questioner and that guy who takes photos, I plan on being known for much more than this though.
What sets me apart is my perspective. No one can draft my perspective like me. The importance of the individual will always outweigh any art form, and that’s the message I’m trying to put out to the world.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood was going to Disneyland. There were a few years when we traveled to Disneyland back to back.
When I was little, Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney were the coolest people ever (yes I know Mickey Mouse is a cartoon).
Another favorite memory from my childhood is playing Kingdom of Hearts on Playstation.
Kingdom of Hearts 2 is still one of the best games I ever played.
Oh, and I went through this hardcore anime phase as a kid. Those are all staple memories from my childhood because that’s when I really fell in love with art.
Disney was so much magic. All of it was just a good time, simpler and less stressful. I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ondrethakhan.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: ondrethakhan__
Image Credit:
Deondre Pasquini
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