Portrait of Humanity

‘It is simple to compare ourselves to others because what we seek is approval, which makes us feel good. Instead, I’ve come to realise that the real struggle is learning to accept yourself for who you are... One thing we all have in common, with vitiligo and without it, is that everyone is worthy of love and support.’

Mr Kulwant Singh Ji and Mrs Paramjeet Kaur Ji have been happily married for 30 years. They have a beautiful ritual of colour coordinating their outfits for any outing.

It is common in big Indian families for older siblings to take care of the younger ones. Often one sees girls in these motherly roles, so seeing the tender relationship between these two brothers was special.

Lucy was surrounded by her girlfriends, immersed in the culture of self-recording and the community and friendship that comes with it.

The migration of Haitians to Chile increased markedly in the 2010s. For a country unaccustomed to receiving migrants, especially Afro-descendants, this migratory wave was very striking and generated a break in Chilean society: there were those who asked the government to stop allowing the entry of Haitians, others who took advantage of the situation by developing real human trafficking mafias or charging ridiculous rents for overcrowded spaces. With little institutionality and this racial conflict, Haitians were alone: ​​they had to learn the language and integrate as best they could, often living poorly and suffering discrimination. I took this photo in an evangelical chapel in the community of Puente Alto, Santiago. A Haitian mother and her son attend a talk given by Chilean pastors in creölle. A large group of local evangelicals have learned the language so they can preach and include newcomers to their community. Even small chilean children skillfully read the bible in creölle.

I saw Elizabeth and Edward O’Brien walking hand-in-hand and was struck by how glamorous and in love they looked. They told me they had a YouTube channel and were often stopped to be photographed. I asked what made them so glam and they replied, ‘Loving one another makes us glamorous.’

My sister and I took all the precautions so that we could travel to where my mom lives in Canada during the pandemic. My mom is a soil scientist, working closely with farmers to help heal their soil, and for this image she took us out to a field she frequents.

This girl saw her tea shop ruined by sea water during super-cyclone Amphan. People here depend on natural resources for their livelihood, but the indiscriminate felling of trees has created an imbalance. Sundarbans is witnessing 3.14 mm rise in sea levels every year.

I set up a traditional family portrait and waited for it to break apart naturally and reveal that ideal moment of tension and tenderness; the contradicting and vulnerable elements of early parenthood and those hazy newborn days.

Inspired by the courage and beauty of Winnie Harlow, a famous model with vitiligo, at the age of 18 Jas decided to go out without makeup for the first time.

Topaz is an Israeli actress, singer and model. She asked to wear full makeup and eyelashes, revealing to us small details that represent a part of her identity.

Roy and Josef are tattoo artists, pictured here with their new daughter. We wanted to show that love has many different shapes, and they all deserve to be celebrated.

Valéria Barcellos is a transgender multi-disciplinary artist who focuses on the inclusion of trans people in society. This is one of a series of portraits with Black leaders from the local community, referencing the Black Lancers of Brazil’s Farroupilha Revolution in the mid-19th century, and emphasising the potential of the Black population.

I wanted to show that women in our contemporary society seem to have freedom and equality, but the woman of the past is still hidden inside. This is the reality of a girl in my land: she has hidden herself among the cooking utensils.

Understanding our past by documenting it as an image tells the story of us as humans. It allows us to appreciate our past and make way for the future.

I took this portrait of David on a sunny day. He had with him a couple of his durags and we shot some images with this pink one. I love how simple it is yet how beautiful he looks. He told me later that this photograph represents ‘the most innocent and pure I have looked since I was a child. To me, this is the last picture I’ve got of myself before I stepped into adulthood.’

Hannah and Diana met online after two failed marriages. They never thought they could find love again after so many years. They now live together, and I felt a huge sense of love, trust, and security in the room, something lacking in our increasingly disposable and capitalist societies.

Seventy per cent of children in Nepal do not complete their secondary school education due to socioeconomic conditions. The chances of twins Ganga and Jamuna are against the odds, but they are determined to finish.

This is Mathieu, the leader of the Guéré tribe. Their traditional dance features young girls (called ‘snake girls’) who show off their contortionist skills and are thrown in the air and ‘juggled’ with.

‘Every time you take my photograph, I remember I cannot smile,’ my grandma told me. I asked her why, and she said that smiles are not real, on the inside everyone is sad.

I met this sadhu, or holy man, on the banks of the Ganges. I was struck by the sincerity in his gaze, he truly seemed at peace with who he was. Every morning after, we traded smiles and shook hands; no matter if we speak the same language, no matter our religion, we all seek connection.

I never imagined that my very religious grandmother would ever agree to pose for a picture, but she positioned herself naturally and confidently. She asked me to show everyone, because it is important that people see her as she is.

Otto is an 11-year-old gentle giant that my father adopted as a puppy. This photo carries mixed emotions for me, as it reminds me that their tight bond means my family has never visited me since I moved to London, because my father refuses to leave Otto.

Bernard Mate Butu knew how to swim before he could walk or talk. These are the children of the sea, whose future is closely linked with that of our oceans; they see themselves as the true custodians of these giant ecosystems.

Paul and Alfred Beck took over the family printing company at the ages of 17 and 14. They stand between machinery that has been passed down from generation to generation, men who have spent the majority of their lives working side by side.

More than 20 million children live in a home without a father. Millions more have dads who are physically present, but emotionally absent. This is an ode to fatherhood as a lifelong responsibility.

Scotto has been living off the grid in an alternative lifestyle community for 20 years, creating dystopian art pieces from recycled junk. He refers to these experimental art sculptures as ‘Salvage Punk’.

Rachel’s relationship with Andy was an important part of who she was at the time. She was vulnerably housed and he felt like home to her. They jived all afternoon to very loud 1950s rock ’n’ roll.

This is part of a body of work comprising Trinidadian artists, models, and fashion designers. It highlights our Afro-Caribbean culture and is influenced by artist Boscoe Holder. Kegan Gulstan is a model and athlete who went into modelling after encouragement from a local designer. He told me, ‘Life is short and time waits on no one in this world, but it’s never too late to achieve your goals and live your dreams!’

Montsho, meaning ‘black’, is a word used in South Africa to make fun of a dark-skinned person. This photo explores the emotional effects of childhood teasing; it is about both destruction and preservation.