ABOUT

The Humans Being Project (THBP) is a global narrative about people everywhere. Its aim is to communicate the inherent sameness within us, in spite of our vast differences. THBP gives viewers the opportunity to glimpse into the lives of individuals and cultures very different from their own and to find connection there. In creating that connection, we hope to inspire compassion and a deeper appreciation of one’s own humanity— and of all human life.

With a focus on creating rich still and video content, project founder and photographer Merrick Chase trains his lens on people from all walks of life in countries around the globe. The more apparently ‘other’ or different from himself he finds his surroundings and subjects, the better. Merrick steps out of his comfort zone and places himself in entirely new and unexpected situations in distant, foreign lands. In doing so, he aims to get beyond his own preconceptions about people, their customs, and culture and share his insights with a global audience. Throughout his travels, Merrick has hitchhiked through vast and remote territories, hiked up and taken boats to villages that are inaccessible by road, played music with local musicians around campfires across Asia and Europe, and been hosted by families in their homes in small villages in places like the Indian Himalayas, the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan, and Myanmar's storied Inle Lake.

The Humans Being Project is a cataloging of our time. Merrick is creating a visual library celebrating some of the many faces of our shared humanity in order to inspire and connect the viewer to the wider world and widely varied ways of life. All imagery presented here is his work. You can follow his experiences on the site and through archived stories from around the world on the project’s Facebook Page here. Stay tuned for fresh new international imagery and learn about the Women of Crested Butte Project here.

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Want to get involved or simply suggest a place for THBP to visit in 2024? Do you have resources to offer—community access, lodging, translation or transportation services, etc? Please Contact Us today, we’d love to hear from you.