Street: How did you get involved in photography? What made you start Humans of UPenn?
I’ve always loved taking pictures. About two years ago I wanted to get a professional camera so I saved up and got it! I’ve never taken any photography classes or anything so I had no idea how to use it, so I spent countless hours on YouTube and the internet. After that I would take my camera everywhere with me, there’s always so much to see and, especially, to remember. I had been toying with idea [of starting Humans of UPenn] for a while. On one of the snow days in January, I was in my room being extremely bored and I realized that I hadn’t taken pictures in so long and that I missed it! So I grabbed my camera and my coat and headed out!
Street: You must be pretty brave to chat up strangers. How do people usually react to your requests?
I’m still amazed at people’s reactions! Most of the people I ask to photograph say yes and are really happy about it! I have gotten no’s but they’re rare. I’m actually pretty shy sometimes and the hardest part is striking up a conversation afterwards to try to find a cool caption.
Street: What has been your most notable encounter doing Humans of UPenn?
On the first night I was out, it was snowing and cold and I was starting to think that it wasn’t a great idea. Then I saw a cute couple walking close to each other under an umbrella, I ran up to them and asked them if they had heard of Humans of New York (That’s usually how I start the conversation). I took their picture and started asking them questions about one another, and I think I got the cutest story yet:
“I’ve known her for five years and I’ve never seen her cooking or do good dishes”
“It’s true.”
“Well...Yesterday was my birthday, and she made me the best birthday cake ever.”
“By myself! I practiced for a week!”
Street: If you could do a “Humans of” anywhere, where would you go?
I think I’d go to a country where my pictures could make a change, and raise awareness about issues. For example, I’d go to the Middle East and fight for womens’ rights through my pictures. Although we know that women are subordinated to men in the Middle East or that most of the African population is in need of food, shelter, etc., we choose to ignore it. So I’d do a “Humans of the World” maybe—I would go around taking pictures of all those who don’t really have a voice, and I’d try to give them one.
