Joven Hamlet, a native of Pine Bluff, is a ninth grader at Pine Bluff Junior High School whose photography skills have become locally recognized.
In his first year competing in the Pine Bluff Branch NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technology and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Program, Hamlet won two silver medals.
Hamlet was one of four students honored during an awards program May 3 at Bethany Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. The event celebrated finalists who competed in the local ACT-SO Program.
ACT-SO, a youth initiative of the NAACP, is an academic Olympics program that supports and highlights student achievement. It has been around for nearly 50 years and is described as the largest academics program in the country for African-American high school students.
Competing in two categories — Visual Arts and Performing Arts — Hamlet earned silver medals in Photography and Music as well as monetary gifts. Mayor Vivian Flowers’ office also recognized him with certificates of achievement.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
As a silver medalist, he will not be able to compete in the national ACT-SO competition slated for Wednesday through Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. However, he will still be able to attend the event, according to Maryann Lee, chair of the Pine Bluff Branch NAACP ACT-SO Program Committee.
“Even though we only take gold winners generally to the ACT-SO convention, we asked Joven to come with us. I want him to audition for the national show,” Lee said as the audience cheered and clapped at the May 3 local contest.
Hamlet shared that he got his start in photography thanks to his parents, Daren Hamlet and Shanicqua Baker, whom he describes as “fashionistas” who love to put on outfits and go places.
Because they always needed someone to take their pictures, he would serve as their photographer. Over time, his mom started noticing how good he was becoming and suggested that he consider pursing photography as a hobby or career.
He started out using his phone to take pictures. When he turned 14, his aunt gave him a Canon T7i digital camera as a birthday gift. For more than a year, he learned how to take pictures with his new camera. His talent and eye for capturing people, places and things continued to improve.
Hamlet said that his “big breakthrough” and “realization” of his gift occurred when he began taking photos at his younger brother’s football game. In his opinion, they were among the best photos that he had ever taken. In fact, Hamlet used one of the sports themed photos in the local ACT-SO competition.
“It’s really been a good hobby for me. I’ve been learning more and getting more experience. I’ve been actually getting paid from it,” he said.
Hamlet’s family have proven to be his biggest fans, supporters and subjects of his work. They have invested in him by purchasing camera lenses and tripods. Hamlet shared that his parents promoted him as a photographer on their social media pages.
His uncle, who he said plays baseball at Philander Smith University, allowed him to take his senior, prom and sports photos last year. As a result, Hamlet now has several “clients” who booked the 15-year-old to photograph their special and important moments such as proms and sporting events.
“That’s where my main calling has been, in sports photography. On my dad’s side of my family, my stepbrother is really good in baseball so I have a lot of pictures of him playing as well,” Hamlet said.
He added that he uses his sister as a model “all of the time.”
“She doesn’t want to be a model but she’s a really good model so I use her. I took a lot of her pictures,” Hamlet said.
He is also pursuing videography and has begun making and editing videos. His future career goal is to produce movies.
When Hamlet was younger, he began to learn how to play the piano and violin. As he got older, he discovered that he would rather sing than play, which led him to an increased interest in singing. After he finishes high school, he plans to attend a historically Black college or university or a filmmaking trade school. His hobbies include fashion and custom designing original fashion pieces.
Hamlet said that happiness is the key factor to consider when it comes to seeking passion in life.
“I would say find something that makes you happy and other people happy that you’re doing it. The best part to me, which really makes me like doing photography, is when you show somebody the picture that you took of them and you see their face and their like, ‘Oh I really love this,’” Hamlet said, “And I’ve been doing editing as well … If I take a picture and someone is insecure about their skin or whatever, I can go in and smooth it out, edit it, reshape … And when you give them the picture they feel confident and they love to post it everywhere. That’s my absolute favorite part,” Hamlet said.
For anyone interested in donating to the ACT-SO program, contributions may be mailed to the Pine Bluff NAACP, P.O. Box 9064, Pine Bluff, AR 71611-9064. In the notation line on the check, write “ACT-SO Donation.” Donations may also be delivered in person to Indigo Blue Coffeehouse or by credit or debit card through GoFundMe and PayPal.