I have no idea who those people are lol

In recent generations, there has been a noticeable trend towards self-absorption, influenced by societal factors. While social media has been a presence for some time, its impact has surged, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Among my peers, there is a preoccupation with self-image, striving to appear 'cool' through their appearance, speech, and behavior.

I would be lying if I claimed to the sway social media; like many, I have felt the pull to conform to its standards. The desire to fit in is a deep human instinct, and I have certainly experienced it firsthand. However, I have always attempted to prioritize my own happiness over other forms of validation, always seeking the beauty and positivity in all aspects of life, especially when adversity is present. When we were given this assignment, I immediately knew I wanted to give myself a challenge; something that would force me out of my comfort zone. I started thinking about what to do but and I was not sure. I knew the end goal was creating more than just a photograph; I wanted to tell a story. What that story is up to the viewer, I simply just want a story to be told through my photography.

Riding in the car one random day the idea came to me. I want to find people and capture them just simply being I want raw authenticity. With that, the series “People being People” was born. Over the past three months, I have collected over 4,000 photos of being simply just existing. It may sound simplistic, but there is an innate beauty in observing others, free from the distractions of modern life. In this series, I intentionally avoided capturing people glued to their phones, instead focusing on the subtle nuances of everyday life that often go unnoticed. I went out riding around several times a week and just observed. If I saw something/ someone that spoke to me then I captured it. People are like snowflakes, no matter how much we want, we will NEVER be like someone else. Each photograph in “People being People” serves as a testament to the diverse tapestry of human experience, capturing genuine, unfiltered emotions in their purest form.

For me, this assignment was both enlightening and immensely rewarding. It forced me to slow down, to be fully present in the moment, and to embrace the spontaneity of life. “People being People” represents photography in its purest form – moments captured, not cultivated. It is a celebration of authenticity, storytelling, and the innate beauty of humanity, reaffirming my passion for storytelling through my photography and reminding me that I am exactly where I am meant to be.