Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself Dwight.

A: My name Dwight Avent Jr but some people call me DJ or Jr. I work at a factory but I’m also a photographer.

Q: Nice. So, what got you into photography?

A: My mom actually gifted me my first camera a few years ago. It was around the time I was trying to find myself. I decided not to finish college and I was dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. Having a healthy outlet like photographing things I like really helped me.

Q: That’s amazing man. What’s your favorite thing to capture?

A: Wildlife. I love capturing animals and nature. So much that I ended up tearing my ACL one day trying to get close to this bird that was on the dam of a waterfall (laughs)

Q: Yikes! I know that was painful. That’s like a serious sports injury and you did this while trying to get a photo? Must have been some bird.

A: It was this beautiful crane! The injury was actually a blessing in disguise because I ended up having to take time off from work because I wasn’t able to walk for a while. It was a break I really needed. I was really overworking myself at that time and having a job that over works hard workers can be tough at times.

Q: I definitely understand that. What made you want to pursue a career in photography if it's just a hobby of yours?

A: I want to be more like my dad. As a kid, I watched him work different jobs, but he always had his side business of cleaning floors. He used to let me help him out when I was young, and he'd even pay me (laughs) He loves to clean and he's good at it, so I understand the feeling of wanting to work for yourself. I love taking pictures and I'm very good at it. If I can turn a hobby into a hustle like my dad, that’d be great. I’d love to only be doing that as my main source of income. Right now, I do it as a second source of income.

Q: How touching. When did you decide, "okay, this is something I want to really pursue?”

A: When I found out my sister was going to give birth to the only other Leo in the family besides myself, I knew I had to capture every moment from the baby shower to her very first photo shoot. Leos are known to be the stars of the family and I want her to grow up and see that from birth, she was meant to be one too. My mom even helped me name my business Grace and Mercy photography because she taught me that God’s grace and mercy will take me where I want to go in life. My niece’s middle name is also Grace so it’s perfect.

Q: Wow, that's some powerful stuff right there. You mentioned earlier dealing with mental health issues, how has photography helped you with that?

A: It's helped a lot more than I thought it would honestly. I had a mental breakdown at work a few weeks ago. I had a lot going on at home and I really didn't have the mental capacity to fight with the machine I had to run. I thought if I confided in the one superior who I trusted, I could run a different machine and have an easier night but I had to kind of suck it up and deal with it. Long story short, I ended up crying all night at work because I couldn't stop thinking about what I was going through and on top of that, the machine had me running around all night and I was also alone with my thoughts so it was a lot. I couldn't leave either because my PTO is above the limit it can be so I kind of just had to thug it out. When I got off, I was so numb that I had those same dark thoughts I used to have. I just drove and ended up back where I hurt my knee. I was honestly contemplating suicide at that point because I’d cried the whole drive there. I just ended up sitting there and praying and when I looked up, there was a crane standing in the water. I grabbed my phone and started recording it and taking pictures of it.

Q: Oh wow, I can’t even imagine going through that. How are you doing now?

A: I’m trying to be okay. The whole thing made me want to go harder with my photography. It’s one of the few things that bring me peace and joy so I want to do all I can with it.

Q: I’m glad to hear you’re trying to do what’s best for you. Maybe you can come back for a full interview about mental health.

A: It’s crazy that you mentioned that. I’m actually working on a documentary about mental health at home and in the workplace. One environment can affect how you come and go into the other. I would love to come back and talk more about it. Mental health is something we as black men don’t talk about enough.

Q: Sounds like a plan! So, on to something fun. Name three fun facts that most people don't know about you.

A: Besides being a photographer, I’m also a writer. I write music, poetry, ideas for films and shows. Right now, it’s all for myself though. I did perform one poem on my birthday this year at an open mic night. That was really fun. As far as my ideas for film, I don’t even know how to go about getting them into the right hands so it’s kind of just for my own therapy.

I also love to dance. I don’t really dance in front of people but it’s something I love doing. It’s also the best form of cardio in my opinion. Hurting my knee kind of made dancing harder but I can still get down (laughs)

I have really bad social anxiety, but you’d never know because of how I hide it or force myself to be more social. I’ve gotten better with it, but it still comes and goes.

Q: What’s your three biggest dreams?

A: To be on TV one day, to own my own chain of food trucks and restaurants, and to be able to take care of those around me.

Q: Lastly, what are the three most important things in your life right now?

A: My relationship with God, taking care my mental health and loving myself more. All of my creative writing consists of God, mental health and self-love.

Q: Thank you so much for your time, Dwight. It’s really been a pleasure getting to know the man behind the lens. I can’t wait to have you back here.

A: The pleasure is all mine, thank you.

The Man Behind The Lens

“Photography is my passion because I love capturing art. I love and appreciate beauty in all forms.’’