My project is called, “Inspirations; Human Connection, A Portrait Series”.

I started this project by taking intimate portraits of people who inspire me, people whom I admire and have made a strong personal connection with.  In thinking about the portraits, I came up with a series of questions that I asked them.   

Questions such as:

-       What are human emotions?

-       What defines human connection?

-       Can emotions create an atmosphere or space?

-       Where do you feel the most connected to yourself and to your emotions?

-       What is your most intimate space?

-       What is vulnerability?

For this portrait series, I have started with a small group of people. These people range from architects to photographers to professors to activists; real people. I asked them  these questions and took their portraits. There was no makeup, no costumes, no rehearsals just raw photography. These photographs capture that true human spirit, full of emotions, full of life and full of thirst for that human connection.

The process for taking these portraits is a simple one. I shot these portraits with film (4x5 & 120mm) as well as with digital photographs. I will also be using Type 55 Polaroid Film for all the subjects shot. My interviewees answered the questions in their own handwriting, which will be featured alongside their portrait.  

John C. Meunier - Professor of Architecture (Type 55 Polaroid Film)

I would like to take the results of my explorations and put the results in a book for all to see.  I would love to show all the portraits, the questions with all the answers in attempt to create a true human connection with others. I would also like to make prints for all that participate & also prints for a gallery show.

The project won’t just end here,  I would love to travel from city to city and find people that inspire others and ask them the same questions. In turn those people will have people that inspire them and will be photographed, this will be an ongoing project of gratitude that will hopefully be shared all over the world. My goal is to find that all of us make a meaningful impact to one another.  We need to return to that devoted human connection between people, to create stronger communities and a better environment all around. I have developed a simple website where you can submit your results & portraits of those who inspire you for all to see.

http://inspirations.calebalvarado.com/

All the contributions to this project will be used for equipment rentals, gallery space, prints, books, travel expenses and website maintenance.

So thank you ahead of time for taking time out of your busy day  to watch my video for kickstarter. I appreciate it and hope that you are able to donate to this inspirational project.  Thank you once again!