In Focus: Comfort of strangers

20 August 2014 - 02:01 By Sandiso Ngubane
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Photographer Christina Primke does not publish the names of her subjects: "This is storytelling. Names don't add anything to the story."

One of her subjects is a young man who works as a security guard, something he had to do after his dream of becoming a lawyer collapsed.

"My father passed away, so I had to work to survive," he told Primke .

Primke started the Humans of Cape Town Facebook page in June last year basing it on the Humans of New York site which has been emulated in various cities across the world by people who want to tell the stories of ordinary people in their relative cities.

Brandon Stanton, the New York photographer pairs portraits with captions that range from silly to heartbreaking:

"I followed Humans of New York and always wondered what it is that drives Stanton's portraits and stories.

"I wondered why people feel so touched. His following exceeds 8million now," Primke said.

"I've always done photography and the Humans movement combines that nicely with my love for people and interest in their realness."

According to ABC News, Stanton is currently contracted with the UN and he is on a 50-day trip taking photographs and telling stories in an attempt to connect with indigenous groups.

His goal is to "give a voice to people who aren't used to having a voice".

Primke said : "The Humans movement gives us a space to celebrate each other and to make each other visible, highlighting the humanity that connects us above all else."

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