Pharm D major Eason Fan (‘25) is widely known as the school photographer. Outside of his Organic Chemistry double period, Fan can be seen capturing some of Tech’s most important moments, from championship sports games to dances and plays. I sat down with Fan to discover who is behind the lens.
The Beginnings
Fan first picked up photography in 5th grade, largely because of his father. “He was a photographer in China…and still does photography and videography for broadcasting companies in the states,” explained Fan. “He teaches me all about photography. In fact, I still use the camera I first touched ten years ago.” This passion, ignited by his father, steadily grew as time went on.
Fan first got involved taking photos for Tech in his freshman year as part of Student Media, a branch of the Student Government Organization that is, according to their Instagram profile, “dedicated to capturing and showcasing the school’s achievements, performing arts, athletics, and more.” Today, he is an intern and the main photographer for the Tech Alumni Foundation. “I was invited to homecoming as a Student Media photographer and the alumni foundation was really impressed with my photos,” said Fan. “Now, they usually just look out to me when they have a job.”
What’s in the Frame?
Fan has covered a wide variety of people and events at Tech, like Homecoming, Future World Vision, football games, and alumni profiles for Tech Times magazine. “They usually give me a list of teachers that the Alumni Foundation gives grants for their projects and I’m supposed to document what their students are doing in those projects, so that the alumni who read the magazine know that their money is being used in the right places,” Fan shared.
Although it is very difficult to choose a favorite subject, Fan has some particular interests. “I really like sports, especially football,” he admitted. “The vibes are really great.” He has also photographed several lacrosse games and soccer finals.
Fan’s work also extends beyond photography. “For the musicals and concerts, I collaborate with Mr. Trombetta and basically I film the videos for them and I manage their YouTube channel,” he explained. The Brooklyn Tech Performing Arts YouTube account, which now has around 750 subscribers and attracts thousands of views, was founded by Fan in freshman year.
Why Photography?
The passion Fan brings to every click of the shutter is more than just a love for a hobby. “This is kind of my way of giving back to the school,” he explained. “It really allows me to make more friends. It’s sort of my personality at school right now, like, the photographer guy. It feels like a big achievement.” Fan hopes to capture defining high school moments and provide his peers with fond memories to look back on. “These things, if you don’t document them, people are going to forget,” he reflected.
Fan’s project is no easy feat. From traveling to events to the editing process, each set of pictures takes a considerable amount of time to produce. “There’s a saying that says, the amount of time you spend taking the photos is equal to the time you spend editing them,” he mused when asked how long conducting a shoot usually takes.
Beyond Tech Photography
Though Fan is planning to major in Aviation Management at Purdue University in the fall, he made it clear that he would not abandon photography in the future. “Being a pilot allows you to travel a lot, which means you can go to different places and take photos,” he said.
Parting Shots
On the technical side of photography, Fan shared that his first camera was the Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR, a camera he loves and still uses, but he has graduated to a new make and model. He now shoots on a Sony, which can better document high speed events. The truth, Fan contends, is that you don’t need a fancy camera to be a good photographer.
Because modern phones have such high quality cameras, Fan argues that “people should take pictures in everyday life and find new perspectives”. “Photography is 70% the correct location at the correct time and the 30% is your actual photography skills, your camera and stuff,” he explained. “My message is to get out there. If you know there’s a final going on at Randall’s Island, just go, don’t stay at home.”
