HUMAN: A Photo Essay

A story of beautiful vulnerability from third year Lydia Hounat.

HUMAN is a photographic project which explores vulnerability across a diverse range of people living and working in Falmouth. As a photographer and writer I wanted to explore the routines of human beings, make then answerable to me, and allow them space to resign to me both mentally and emotionally. Albert Camus once said that 'Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is'. With my humans I attempted to discover what people really were, alone, or with an individual that they could depend on with their life.

These photos, taken over three months, document my relationship with 17 models in an effort to capture their humanity as expressed in vulnerable moments. They were all almost strangers to me in the beginning. By the end of a shoot, we were friends. The series draws upon various tensions and a great diversity including the stories of couples, diverse genders and sexualities, introverts and extroverts, and people from a variety of races and faiths. I learnt what it felt like to be somebody else, if just for a few hours.

JAMES // HUMAN // PT. 1.

This is James. James studies at university and works at Harbour Lights in Falmouth, Cornwall. James is HUMAN.

ANDREW // HUMAN // PT. 2.

This is Andrew. Andrew is from Glasgow in Scotland and makes music. Andrew is HUMAN.

ATLANTA // HUMAN // PT. 3.

This is Atlanta. Atlanta listens to Tupac and models for a lot of photographers. Atlanta is HUMAN.

JP & CHARLIE // HUMAN // PT. 4.

This is JP & Charlie. They've been dating for a few months. They eat Pringles and drink wine. JP & Charlie are HUMAN.

CESCA // HUMAN // PT. 5.

This is Cesca. Cesca moved to St Austell, Cornwall a few years ago from Oxford. She has a pet rabbit. Cesca is HUMAN.

JASMINE // HUMAN // PT. 6.

This is Jasmine. Jasmine sings, has a vinyl player her ex gave her, and studies English. Jasmine is HUMAN.

YUSEF // HUMAN // PT. 7.

This is Yusef. Yusef's from Reading. He's an only child and follows politics. Yusef is HUMAN.

PAIGE & JOSH // HUMAN // PT. 8.

This is Paige & Josh. They're together. Josh is a photographer, Paige studies English and sells vintage clothes on depop. Paige & Josh are HUMAN.

SHANE // HUMAN // PT. 9.

This is Shane. Shane has a Brummie accent and studies Fine Art. Shane is HUMAN.

ALEX // HUMAN // PT. 10.

This is Alex. Alex reads existentialist philosophy and plays guitar. Alex is HUMAN.

ALAN // HUMAN // PT. 11.

This is Alan. Alan is Norwegian. Alan identifies as gay, and he also takes photos. Alan is HUMAN.

CHARLIE // HUMAN // PT. 12.

This is Charlie. Charlie loves cooking and listens to Bring Me The Horizon. Charlie is HUMAN.

JESS // HUMAN // PT. 14.

This is Jess. Jess graduates from university in a few months. Jess illustrates and writes poetry. Jess is HUMAN.

GIANLUCA // HUMAN // PT. 15.

This is Gianluca. Gianluca is from Milan in Italy and is doing a year abroad in Cornwall studying Film. Gianluca is HUMAN.

In the end, all these people taught me more about myself through my endeavours to know them. Each shoot was so different. Each person was so different. I'd like to think that this is demonstrated in these photos. You can view the HUMAN story in full on my website, here.

By Lydia Hounat