Jaivanth, aka @Xia

Who are you?

I'm Jaivanth, many people know me as Jai or Xia, I'm 18 years old who's about to enter uni this year!

How did you get started with photography and who are your influences?

My interest in photography began back when i was in sixth grade, just capturing moments and freezing memories as I go around. Over time, my curiosity evolved into a true passion. My biggest creative influences are Max Adams, North Borders, and That Icelandic Guy; their content and tutorials have been monumental in helping me refine my techniques and make me better at what im doing.

How do you approach a shoot?

I visualize the subject in my mind, the exposure, the colors, everything. If it's up to the mark I just get my camera out and take few minutes to compose the shot according to how I visualized it initially, after that I decide the settings and shoot.

Can you share a recent photo you're proud of and tell us about why you like it?

This cat image is something I'm really proud to show, initially I wanted the eye of the cat to be the subject against the golden sunlight, while the cat was laying down and watching my camera with curiosity. I just took the shot with high shutter speed (since it was handheld and to compensate for the bright sunlight), the rest of the image was made better in post-processing in Lightroom (color grading, saturation etc.). To me it's just perfect since I was able to capture it exactly the way I visualized it without any errors.

How has your style evolved over time?

Like many photographers, I started my journey by capturing random subjects and exploring whatever caught my eye. Over time, that experimentation led me to few specific niches that truly loved to follow. So far, I have explored astrophotography heavily focusing on the moon, animal photography primarily including cats and birds, and macro photography, which allows me to showcase the world from a fresh, unseen perspective. Moving forward, I’m excited to keep exploring new styles while mastering the niches I love.

If you could only have one camera and one lens, what would they be and why?

I would choose the Nikon Z9 paired with a 180-600mm lens. The Z9 is an absolute powerhouse. Its 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor provides an incredible amount of resolution to work with, and its ability to shoot 8K RAW video is mind boggling, allowing for crisp, clean close-ups of wildlife in their natural habitats. The blazing-fast shutter speed ensures razor-sharp images of fast-moving subjects without motion blur, while Nikon’s advanced autofocus and pre-release capture make tracking birds and unpredictable wildlife seamless. Features like In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) and customizable Picture Controls are major advantages when shooting at long focal lengths. When paired with the 180-600mm lens, this setup allows me to safely capture distant subjects from an impressive range, and the high megapixel count gives me the flexibility to crop in close without losing fine details.

Any photography hot takes?

The gear doesn't make the photographer. A camera is just a tool, and a great eye can capture a stunning images no matter how basic or advanced the equipment is.

If you have faced any challenges during a photography shoot, what were they and what did you learn from them?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is realizing just how fast a moment can pass. Early on, there were times I didn't preset my camera before a shoot; by the time I adjusted my settings, a fast-moving subject would already be gone. That taught me the importance of being prepared. I’ve learned to predict the environment, dial in baseline settings beforehand, and utilize semi-automatic modes like Shutter Priority to ensure I never miss an important shot.

What is the most useful piece of advice or tip you can share?

First, high ISO is incredibly underrated, don't be afraid of digital noise if it means getting a sharp shot in low light. Second, push your current gear to its absolute absolute limits. For example, I used to reverse-mount a standard 16-50mm kit lens just to experiment with macro photography. Finally, just take more photos. The only real way to get better is through consistent, hands-on practice.

Thanks for the chat! Where can we find your work besides Bokeh Bunker?

You can follow my photography journey and see more of my work on Instagram at @imxiaphotos.