Humans of Orangeville

“It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter”
– Alfred Eisenstaedt

August 5, 2015 | | Blogs | Community | Leisure | Two Blue Boots

I’ve always appreciated a good story. I like to read a good story. I like to listen to a good story. I like to create a good story. I love the interplay between the telling and the listening, the reaction and the response. I relish the back and forth, the ping and the pong, the exchange of ideas and emotions.  Stories entertain, inform, and evoke emotion. Stories are magical. Stories are Super Glue.

Here is a story for you:

In 2010, a young man named Brandon lost his job and moved to New York City and decided to spend some time taking portraits of strangers in the streets. His initial goal was to photograph and catalogue the photos and plot them onto a map.

His project gradually detoured in an unexpected direction. He began to spend time with the people he chose to photograph. He asked them questions and posted their answers along with their photos. He discovered that these strangers were willing to share their personal stories, advice, fears, and concerns. Brandon’s HONY blog grew in popularity and now millions of people worldwide enjoy Humans of New York.

I’m intrigued by Brandon’s photos – but more so, by the captions, quotes and stories that accompany them. The residents of New York enjoy telling jokes and funny stories, but they are also willing to share their honest and raw emotions. Their simple tales unite us and give us a sense of community – and not just local community – we become poignantly aware of the bond between all humankind.

The global impact of the photos and stories is evident in the comments section found below each picture. Folks from all over the world want to offer encouragement, advice, condolences, and congratulations. After all, a community is made up of individual members co-existing on this planet we call Earth. We are all muddling through this thing called Life, for better or for worse.

Humans of Orangeville

Humans of Orangeville (HOO)

Humans of New York inspired me to create a local spin-off blog. I love to take photos, I enjoy talking to people, and I’m a writer. I live on the outskirts of Orangeville, in the hills of Hockley. Orangeville is a growing community brimming with vibrant and interesting people. This town is my go-to place for all my wants and needs. And so –all together, these perfect ingredients have created the recipe for Humans of Orangeville (HOO).

My goal is to have fun, meet some fascinating people, and create a cohesive, interactive platform for the visitors and residents of Orangeville (and beyond) to connect in a meaningful way. I hope you will join me on this new journey.

Web Site: www.humansoforangeville.ca
Facebook Page: facebook.com/humansoforangeville

About the Author More by Laurie May

Laurie teaches Grade 4 at Island Lake Public School in Orangeville and writes in her spare time. She lives in Mono and looks for the humour in everyday country life. Check out her blog “Two Blue Boots”.

Comments

14 Comments

  1. Great work, Laurie! Everybody’s got a story. This site should light ’em up!

    Dan Needles from Nottawa on Aug 12, 2015 at 8:35 am | Reply

    • Hi Dan: Thanks for your encouragement. The people of Orangeville have been pretty curious about HOO…and it is gradually growing in popularity. I’m having fun and meeting some interesting folks.

      Laurie May on Aug 13, 2015 at 12:42 am | Reply

  2. Valerie—Your wish has been granted. The latest HOO post features Taco, the Chihuahua!! And–my latest photos are “horizontal”. Thanks for your ideas and advice.

    Laurie May on Aug 7, 2015 at 8:43 am | Reply

    • Excellent work! The photos fill up the screen.

      Valerie on Aug 12, 2015 at 8:37 am | Reply

  3. You’ve been so busy this summer! This is such a fantastic project for you, a mix of all your favourite things . . . I’m looking forward to reading more of your website postings.

    Danielle on Aug 6, 2015 at 4:38 am | Reply

    • Hi Danielle: Yes, it has been a busy summer–but an enjoyable one! Stay tuned for more postings!

      Laurie May on Aug 6, 2015 at 4:27 pm | Reply

  4. Laurie, I have always enjoyed listening to your stories and reading your stories, both the creative ones and the ones from your own experiences. So I am thrilled that you have started HOO! Now there will be photos to go with the stories…or is it stories to go with the photos?? Either way I have a feeling HOO is going to be a HOO-T!

    Ann from Collingwood on Aug 5, 2015 at 9:32 pm | Reply

    • Ann….thanks for the compliments and for that witty comment. I took a few more photos today. The part I enjoy the most is chatting with people. I have to remind myself to take the photos!

      Laurie May on Aug 6, 2015 at 4:25 pm | Reply

  5. Valerie–thanks for taking the time to comment. I will NEVER EVER be a master of the web. I will leave that up to you at echohill.ca. Thanks for making my blog posts look so amazing. I will try harder to take horizontal photos. I guess it’s just habit to take them vertically. Also–I love your idea of capturing some Orangeville pets. I’m such an animal lover that I’m sure I could communicate with them too.

    Laurie May on Aug 5, 2015 at 4:54 pm | Reply

  6. Boy I din’t like the idea at first but now that I have seen it, I think it is great. I wish I lived in Orangeville. I’ve even got to know a great restaurant because of HOO!

    Norma Jane from Collingwood on Aug 5, 2015 at 4:10 pm | Reply

    • Thanks Norma Jane! I’m so glad that you changed your mind. Stay tuned for more!

      Laurie May on Aug 5, 2015 at 4:41 pm | Reply

  7. Great idea looking forward to view this site.

    Darrel May from 2 blue boots on Aug 5, 2015 at 1:58 pm | Reply

    • Thanks, Darrel I was a little hesitant with the idea at first….but I’m now convinced that it’s going to be GREAT!

      Laurie May on Aug 5, 2015 at 3:06 pm | Reply

      • Laurie, soon you’ll be a writer, photographer and master of the web! PS remember to take horizontal shots too and please sneak a few pets in. 🙂

        Valerie on Aug 5, 2015 at 4:19 pm

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