The Humans of Shawnee

Inspired by photographer Brandon Stanton and his Humans of New York project, eighteen high school photography students from the Academy @Shawnee created a series of self-portraits they called The Humans of Shawnee. Students carefully studied, analyzed, and discussed the images and statements collected by Brandon Stanton before writing their own intimate questions and responses. In these responses, students attempted to emulate the intimacy and honesty they admired in Humans of New York.

The process of creating the accompanying portraits involved student-led choices as to how the tone, content, and personality of their written statements should be portrayed in an image. Students set up their self-portrait scenes in the everyday hallways, stairwells, and classrooms of The Academy @ Shawnee; they also designed their own composition, lighting, and focal points, and their art teacher clicked the shutter button. Students then analyzed and chose their most successful photographs to be displayed both at their school and at Local Speed.

The goal of sharing such private, intense and difficult moments of their lives was motivated by a desire to connect to their school and city-wide community in a profound and empathetic way. Many students expressed the desire to help others see students at Shawnee as the unique and resilient humans they are.