Let's create a Humans of Northfield project
Humans of New York and Humans of Minneapolis show the how it's done
I don’t remember who told me about the Humans of New York (HONY) last fall when I told them we were relaunching Northfield.org, but I borrowed the book Humans of New York: Stories from the Northfield Public Library, and I found it inspiring.
From the cover:
"In the summer of 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton began an ambitious project--to single-handedly create a photographic census of New York City. The photos he took and the accompanying interviews became the blog Humans of New York. Ever since Brandon began interviewing people on the streets of New York, the dialogue he's had with them has increasingly become as in-depth, intriguing and moving as the photos themselves. Humans of New York: Stories presents a whole new group of people in stunning photographs, with a rich design and, most importantly, longer stories that delve deeper and surprise with greater candor."--
The concept has spread around the world, including Humans of Minneapolis by Stephanie Glaros.
When I graze through the HONY Instagram feed, some posts have videos, but most have photos that include text excerpts of what the subjects said to Brandon Stanton. In the book, some photos include some explanatory comments by Stanton.
A screenshot (individual photos not clickable) from @humansofny:
I combed through my archive of downtown Northfield photos and selected nine (each clickable) as examples that, in retrospect, could have been candidates for a Humans of Northfield story:
I asked ChatGPT if anyone published a how-to guide for people interested in replicating HONY for their town. Its reply is in Footnote #1.
Do you have what it takes?
It’s clear to me that the skills needed to interview and photograph strangers for this project are significant but learnable for the right person. If you’re interested, contact us. If you know someone who might be, share this post with them.
As of now, Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York (HONY), hasn't published an official how-to guide specifically for replicating his work. His approach has largely been characterized by a blend of intuitive and empathetic street photography paired with brief yet profound interviews, capturing the essence of individuals' stories in a way that resonates universally.
However, there are several resources and interviews where Stanton has shared insights about his approach and techniques, which could serve as an informal guide:
1. **Interviews and Talks**: Stanton has given numerous interviews and talks (e.g., TED Talks, podcasts) where he discusses his methods, approach to strangers, and how he manages to get deep, meaningful stories from people he just met.
2. **His Books**: Stanton's books not only showcase his work but also reflect his methodology and the sensitivity with which he approaches his subjects. While they are not how-to guides, they can provide inspiration and insight into how to approach storytelling and photography.
3. **Online Articles and Blogs**: Various photography and journalism blogs have analyzed Stanton's work, offering tips and insights that can be gleaned from his approach to creating HONY.
For anyone looking to replicate or adapt Stanton's approach for their community, the key elements would include:
- **Developing Strong Interpersonal Skills**: Being able to approach strangers and quickly build a rapport that makes them comfortable sharing personal stories is fundamental.
- **Photography Skills**: While the photos in HONY are relatively straightforward, they are thoughtfully composed and focus on capturing the essence of the subject. Basic skills in portrait photography and an understanding of good lighting and composition are important.
- **Listening and Storytelling**: The ability to listen deeply and then distill someone’s story into a few poignant sentences is crucial. It’s about finding the universal elements in individual experiences.
For a project like yours in Northfield, adapting these principles to the context of your community and focusing on what makes each story unique yet relatable could help mimic the success of HONY on a local scale. Combining these storytelling techniques with your platform for community journalism could create a powerful and engaging project.