Leon Wu: Behind The Lens

Riverdale, NY - Three years ago, Manhattan College student Leon Wu, then a sophomore, decided to expand his photography hobby to sports. Through nights on the baseline in Draddy or spring afternoons down at Gaelic Park, Wu quickly became an integral part of the Athletic Department, capturing special moments, and memories, for the Jaspers. 

Before he graduates in May with a degree in computer science, the Air Force ROTC student sat down with GoJaspers.com to talk about his time with Manhattan Athletics. Wu also shared some of his favorite photos, which can be seen in the gallery below, and on the @GoJaspers Twitter and Instagram pages. 

What made you want to get into photography?
I wanted to document life. As we get older, I want to document how I see the world through my eyes. 

Why did you want to photograph sports?
Seeing the athletes' drive and motivation was really great. I'm a competitive person, so it appealed to me, as well as seeing how every aspect of team life comes together. Something just clicked for me. 

For you, what makes a good picture?
[Laughing] There's a lot of answers to this. I think a good picture is something you can look back on after 20 years and say, "wow, that really happened." It's also timeless. It should tell a story; if someone has never been to a sporting event, but can get a sense of what the sport is like.

Is there a theme to your photography?
I usually try not to focus on something everyone can see. The action of the game is already taken care of [by other photographers]. It's a lot different shooting for personal reasons rather than as a job. I look for small details from the sideline, a smile, a nudge. A lot of athlete's will tell me they remember that moment. The action is cool, but those moments are better. 

Do you have a favorite moment from photographing Manhattan teams?
There's so much. I've been doing this for three years! All those times were meaningful to me. I did love being at Gaelic Park, being out there in the freezing cold or the extreme heat. [Laughing] There was never an in-between. 

What have you learned through photography?
Practice makes perfect. My earlier work isn't as good, and it's good to recognize that and work to make it better. I know there is a time you can look back on your work and be happy with it. But it's about putting enough repetitions in. It's about the journey and the trying times, being out there. Knowing I actually took the time to do a better job, that's the stuff I will cherish. 

What else would you like to say to your fellow Jaspers?
Manhattan is a community, and I always like to volunteer to be part of the community. When I leave a place, I want it to be better than when I got there. So I hope I brought some joy to some people. The student-athletes taught me that anything is possible if you try hard.