Inspired by Humans of New York (HONY), a popular photo blog that's mission is to "create an exhaustive catalogue of New York City's inhabitants," according to the group's Facebook page. Humans of Auburn has brought the social media project to the Plains.
Humans of Auburn (HOA) initially began as an idea in a freshmen leadership group and was brought to life by Tomi Obebe, junior in nutrition sciences and president of HOA, in April 2014.
"We do draw inspiration from HONY's founder Brandon Stanton, but we are still working on finding our own identity and signature," Obebe said.
It's anticipated most subjects photographed for the project will reflect its audience, ranging between the ages of 18-25.
Obebe said she hopes fans will view each interview either as relatable or eye opening.
The key difference between the two projects is the sense of familiarity that comes with Humans of Auburn.
HOA's vice president Carrie Culwell, sophomore in French international trade, said fans of the page will likely see friends or faces from around campus, as opposed to the strangers found on HONY.
Though the subjects posted on the page may be recognizable, Obebe said the stories are anything but predictable.
"Some of the most profound responses come from the unexpected," Obebe said.
Stories on HOA's Facebook page cover a range of topics, such as academics and personal history, as well as goals and aspirations.
The photo project's mission of documenting the people of Auburn also serves a dual purpose for its staff.
Both Obebe and Culwell agreed that approaching individuals and asking them personal questions is the most challenging, yet rewarding, aspect of their jobs.
"You have to be brave," Culwell said of the interview process.
Staff photographer Andria Moore, junior in journalism, said she found engaging in conversations with strangers has improved her communication skills.
Dillon Nettles, senior in political science, was one of the first subjects to be documented for the project.
Nettles said he was caught offguard when his photo was snapped while on campus one morning.
"You don't have time to think of anything creative or clever," Culwell said. "But there is definitely something to be said about being captured in the moment."
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