MARCH 2025: CLAIRE THOMAS
PHOTOGRAPH: HUMANITY
THE ASSIGNMENT BRIEF
From Claire Thomas: “Humanity in a photograph can be shown in many ways. For example, it could be a compassionate emotional moment with family members or with an animal like a pet. It might be a self-portrait, a picture that shows your humanity, a moment of self-reflection, perhaps? One of the things I am always drawn to is hands. I feel like hands tell an extraordinary story of a person and humanity. You can tell a lot about someone and what they’ve lived through by their hands. They are some examples but feel free to take it in any direction through your imagination and empathy.”
HOW TO ENTER. IMPORTANT NOTES ON FILE SIZE AND ENTRIES
Send your entry to stories@photowalk.show. Your picture should be 2,500 pixels wide, if possible, for online optimisation. Or send the full-resolution photo, which we will optimise. Feel free to provide text as well if you think it will help explain the location, context, etc. Please don’t add borders or watermarks, and be sure to send FULL URL links to your websites and socials so that we can link to your work on this assignment page. We’ll use a selection of photos you submit on our Photowalk Instagram to showcase your work to our community and help build connections.
Entries are shown below. Good luck!
Neale
CLAIRE THOMAS
Above, twenty-eight-year-old Yasser Haider shares a quiet moment of closeness with a horse at the Springs of Hope Foundation's equine centre in Shariya in the Duhok Governorate of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Haider was born without legs and lives with other physical challenges. Together with a group of other less abled men, Yasser visits the Horses for Hope project once a week from Shariya camp where he now lives.
Below: A rescue worker shakes the hand of a refugee after he arrived on the north shore of the Greek island of Lesvos in the village of Skala Skamineas. A year on from the March 2016 EU-Turkey deal aimed at deterring the influx of refugees and migrants to Europe, thousands continue to risk their lives in the hope of reaching the safety of European shores.
See more of Claire’s work on her website.
JOHN CHARLTON
Friends Upon the Stage
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts."
- William Shakespere, As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7
It was Spring Break. School was out in the Town of Port Hope and the temperatures had unexpectedly risen some 20 degrees above normal, encouraging people weary of cold weather and winter gear to step outside unencumbered by boots and jackets. I was passing by the bandshell on my way to a photographic meetup, when I heard the whir of a remote controlled car echoing from the half dome of the open air theatre. Then laughter and the voices of young people. I turned to look across the park as they meandered across the stage, each of them connected to the others. Together they move as a single unit. My mind raced back to my youth and the endless days of creating our own entertainment. It's not a sight you see much anymore. Young people out and about, not a phone in sight. A tall lanky boy, the RC operator, looked out at me and smiled. So too did a younger boy. A girl of equal height to the first, followed behind in lockstep. Another boy bounced up and down with endless energy. He ran circles around them flailing his arms and legs, making faces, and bouncing off the curved wall behind them. A young girl seems to walk away from them but she too is just another free radical filled with nervous energy. I wonder about their relationships. I wonder what drew them to climb the steps to the stage where I am their only audience. A fast shutter stops time and captures the moment before they disappear stage left. Just a walk on part it seems, but easily one of the best parts of my day. I look at the image and feel like clapping.
See more of John’s work on his Substack.
SPIKE BOYDELL
This image, captured on Kodachrome 64 with my trusty Nikon FE2 from a boat on the Ganges in January 1994, is not just a photograph but a fragment of an immersive, transformative journey. Accompanied by Sri Malayda Mukherjee—a Brahmin, guide, and former colleague from Liverpool John Moores University—I embarked on a month-long odyssey through India, from Kolkata to Darjeeling, Varanasi to the Bay of Bengal. A year after migrating to Australia in 1993, I was seeking something intangible: a deeper understanding of existence, a spiritual reckoning that books and Vedanta studies alone could not provide.
The evening on the Ganges was a pivotal moment. As Malay and I drifted along the river, we observed the pulsating life of the bathing ghats, where thousands gathered to cleanse themselves—physically, spiritually, communally. Later, as night fell, our boat approached the funeral ghats, where firelight flickered against the darkness, illuminating the cycle of life and death in its most unembellished form.
This image encapsulates that experience.
The overwhelming density of humanity, layered across the ghat, is both chaotic and ordered, sacred and profane. Each individual—pilgrim, vendor, sadhu, child—participates in a dance of faith, survival, and tradition. The worn stone steps, makeshift shelters, and historic façades speak to the endurance of belief in the face of economic and environmental hardship.
Despite having studied Vedanta philosophy, I was unprepared for the sheer intensity of what we witnessed—the stark contrasts of spiritual devotion and material deprivation, serenity and suffering, ritual and reality. This journey left an imprint not only on my soul but also on my approach to documentary photography. In India, in 1994, the act of making photographs often felt more like taking than creating—an ethical quandary that shaped my photographic practice for years to come. What could I give back?
This image seems fitting as my submission for the one word assignment ‘Humanity’. It is more than a document of a place and time—it is a meditation on the universal rhythms of existence, the seeking of meaning, and the unspoken tensions between observer and observed.
JERILYN OWEN
Unfiltered Me…... Accepting and loving me at 55. Embracing the arctic blonde hair that I have fought for too many years to admit to. Accepting that my lines show the joy and sorrows I’ve lived. The baggy eyelids are a reminder that I am my Grandpa Baker’s granddaughter, that the lines under my eyes match my moms along with blue color. The scar on my neck reminds me that my work here wasn’t done yet and I have a lot more to do. And that the smile is the love that I have for who I am as I turned 55.
CHRIS SMITH
The image was taken at Chester Zoo a few years back when visiting with friends to celebrate their daughter's 1st Birthday. The day was amazing with good company and cake, and as a keen amateur nature photographer I was excited to be surrounded by the exotic animals..... Lions & tigers & bears..... Oh my!!!! ( & literally)
I clicked away but when we got to the orangutans, I was stopped by what I saw as a sadness about them, a humanlike quality that I was uncomfortable with. The zoo and other amazing people there, are doing work to keep the population from being wiped from the planet and those that live in the zoo are looked after with kindness and love and the care they receive shows a humanity toward them as a species.
The Human-like qualities of the hand just made me stop and think once I looked at the picture when I got home. When I showed it to a photographer friend he described it as a strong image, this was a phrase I had never heard a picture of mine described as in that way before.
I like that the image stirs emotion, compassion on the situation of the orangutan and maybe even empathy and is open to interpretation & what emotion it stirs up to show our own humanity towards another species.
See more of Chris’ work on his website.
JOSEPH STOTHERS
As our 2 year-old daughter finishes waking up from her nap, a tired mom (my wife) and her snuggle on the couch.
When I think of the word humanity, I think of shared human experiences: that of love and loss, of death and birth, of grief and joy, of acceptance and rejection. It's these common experiences where I see humanity in its most pure essence; it's where I see my humanity and my connection to others and their stories.
Parenthood has been the most exhausting endeavour of my life. But that was expected. What I didn't expect was how it changed my humanity. Stories of loss and grief and love and acceptance that surround children have such a deeper impact on me than ever before.
I think the more common the experience, the more humanity you can find in it. And the more of life someone can experience, the more humanity they will have for others.
I see the humanity in this image with how it will resonate with others: a tired mom, just wanting a moments more rest; arms wrapped around a loved child; the child, safe and sound in her mom’s lap and without a care in the world.
JADE LEE
'Mum and Me,' is a photo of my mum and I holding hands. It became a tradition after she was sick and I wanted to let her know that I was there for her. It's become something we do naturally wherever we are if we need comfort.
See more of Jade’s work on her website.
MANDY EDWARDS
Please find attached a couple of images based on the theme Humanity. Two of the images from a body of work following the lives, service and faith of Sister Ursula and Sister Marie Monique. The essay forms part of a wider project examining faith, through both mainstream and alternative spiritual practice.
The full story can be seen through the following photofilm below, and see more of Mandy’s documentary work on her website.
ALLIN SORENSON
When I think of humanity, I reflect on the connections that bind us, and how precious they become when no longer possible. For me, music is a powerful expression of this connection, especially when played together. This photo documents a moment at my university during COVID, when we were determined to make music despite the obstacles. The masks, bell covers, and distance were necessary, but they also highlighted our shared humanity and resilience, creating unexpected closeness during a time of isolation.
See more of Allin’s work on his Instagram.
SAM RAMSAY
I decided that I would try my hand at this month's assignment, mostly because I love to photograph hands - so here are my three (hopefully three is okay), I could not decide which. I also am sending along a little post I wrote about my husband's hands - not done for the assignment, but something I wrote last year and was reminded of while listening to the extra mile.
See Sam’s project on hands mentioned above, on her website.
PAUL FRIDAY
I was supposed to be taking their picture, but Dad wouldn't keep still and Mum kept telling him dirty jokes. So I took a snap instead and it was better than any portrait.
MARILYN DAVIES
The Assignment for this month is a difficult one but I got to thinking about the images I'd made recently that may have depicted "humanity" and came across this one I made a couple of weeks ago.
The beard is the thing that attracted my attention but thinking about this image, there are many things that can fall into the subject of humanity. But this meetup on a Sunday morning obviously involved a group of friends who meet regularly. The sun was rising and the location was a sleepy fishing location where people either launched their boats or fished off the jetty, or just met up for a natter and friendship. A lovely example of supporting each other and humanity being richer for the experience.
MARTIN PENDRY
"Humanity" in the Darkest Moments of Baby Loss.
Hanging from my lanyard are three small badges—bronze, silver, and gold—marking milestones of 10, 25, and 50 photoshoots for Remember My Baby. But they represent so much more than numbers. They are symbols of presence, of quiet strength, of humanity.
Remember My Baby is not just a charity; it is a movement of compassion, a network of volunteers who walk into maternity units not to save lives, but to honour them. We enter spaces where words falter, where grief is raw, and we offer something intangible yet invaluable—memories.
The evidence is clear. These photographs, however painful they may feel in the moment, help parents in their journey through loss. A tiny foot cradled in a parent’s palm, the delicate curve of a hand—these images affirm that this child was here, that they were loved, and that their story deserves to be told.
There is no preparation for the loss of a child. But through the lens, we bear witness. We create something beautiful from something heartbreaking. And in doing so, we remind grieving parents that they are not alone—that humanity exists in the form of a team who simply turns up, time and time again, to stand with them in the darkness.
Each badge on my lanyard represents families I’ve supported, a moment I’ve captured, and a life that, however brief, was cherished. This is what humanity looks like.
See more of Martin’s work on Instagram.
RIMAS MIKNEV
I met Duke on Dundas Street in London Ontario, Canada. He's confined to a wheelchair. I was approaching him on the sidewalk, where he had stopped and was smoking a cigarette, hand-rolled if I remember right. He looked forlorn, so I asked what he liked in his coffee and ran across the street to get a couple take-outs, came back, and we had a bit of a chat. The talking animated him and he seemed a bit cheerier as we parted. I have only seen him once more since that day, but I haven't been in the neighbourhood much lately.
See more of Rimas’ work on Flickr.
CHAD GARNER
Greetings from North Carolinaland.
I call this photograph “Family”. That is what my Grandmother Daynese McCarn would always say when she was able to come around for the annual family Christmas.
I was able to capture this candid moment after everyone had opened all of their presents. She was sitting alone, and I can imagine that she was reminiscing past memories, peaceful, calm, and happy just being around everyone again.
MORRIS HAGGERTY
This shot was taken in Belfast harbour of a coal boat preparing to head back out to sea. The men and women in cargo/transport/logistics are what keep society afloat (no pun intended), something that was abundantly clear during the period that shall not be named 2019-2021.
In this photo it is clear to see the the mariners loading supplies onto their Brazilian vessel the old fashioned way - a perfect depiction of humanity and how working in unison is of benefit to everyone.
See more of Morris’ work on his Instagram.
JON DORSETT
Please find attached my submission for March’s assignment.
St Peter’s Square in Manchester is a regular venue for gatherings and demonstrations etc. There has been for several months now a weekly show of support for the struggle currently going on in Gaza. It’s amazing to me the vast spectrum of age ranges and nationalities that come together to unite for a cause such as this. I took a few pictures on this particular day, but this one stood out for me. It’s the look of resignation, hopelessness, on her face. It made me sad at the time, and it makes me sad each time I look at it. I think it’s the lack of humanity in the situation that generates that emotion. Sometimes humanity is sadly absent.
DAVID POTTINGER
I was not sure if there were any rules about when an image was taken, this was taken some time ago, and for me is the one image that I have taken that best met this month’s assignment. I travelled back to the station a few years later to ask if anyone recognised her as I wanted to give her a print. Definitely a note to self ‘If someone lets you take their photograph, exchange details’
All the best
David
Fuji 100F ISO 200 1/420 f2
"As my wife and I settled into our seats on the steam train, we noticed a couple with their dogs approaching the carriage. At first, we thought they were joining us, but it quickly became clear that the man seemed troubled about something. After entering the carriage, they exchanged a few quiet words before he left, returning to the platform with his dog. The woman, however, sat down beside us, spreading a rug on the seat for her beagle. We exchanged pleasantries, and she explained that her friend had been unsure of how his dog would react to the train ride and had ultimately decided not to travel.
With a blow of the guard’s whistle, the steam train began to move, gently pulling away from the station. As I looked at the scars on her right arm, I couldn’t help but make a perhaps misguided assumption: that she had once struggled with self-harm. My mind wondered about her past, about the struggles that might have led her to that point, and how much her beagle had been a source of comfort through it all.
Summoning the courage to ask, I inquired if I could take a photograph of her dog. She smiled warmly and agreed. The image I share with you is one I hope captures the bond they shared—the way the soft light in the carriage illuminated her dog, reflecting the light he had brought into her life, and perhaps even her healing journey.”
HARRIET LANGRIDGE
We have been to the same place on the Cornwall coast for a number of years (always out of season), within a stones throw of the house is a pub/hotel/brewery which we frequent while "in residence". It's a dog friendly pub, used by tourists after they've been on the beach, or up on the head and locals too. I happened to have my camera one evening, and saw this, so please excuse the slight lack of focus (taken quickly and they moved), but I just love the look between the two of them.
RUBY SANFORD-SMITH
Please find attached my submission for the March Assignment. This is my first time submitting (eek!) so I’m not totally sure what to write. I don’t think my photo has a description but I suppose it does somewhat have a title. Humanity in the Urban Landscape.
See more of Ruby’s work on her website.
KEITH JOHNSON
Humanity's effect on the environment, this helium ballon at one point would have given someone great pleasure releasing it to celebrate a special occasion, but now caught in a tree in a farmers field not only does it pose a danger farm animal and wild life should they eat it or how long before it would degrade.
ROBIN CHUN
I wasn't going to contribute to this assignment because I thought I don't do that sort of photography, especially more recently, but more out of curiosity than anything else I went through my back catalogue just to see if I had an image that might fit the brief... so this picture is one from eight years ago featuring my youngest daughter and her first born, and on studying the photograph I thought, what can be more human than that of a mother's love for her children!
See more of Robin’s work on his website.
HARALD KAHLES
Here ist my entry for this months competition. I attended an in Store Fashion Show and this little Dog was very alert and clearly played a big part in the Owners life.… So when the snacks came round he was right on the button!
