After moving to New York City, I found the city overwhelming and struggled to relate to my surroundings. People I’ve Met is a portrait series born from that experience of unfamiliarity and displacement.

As a foreigner searching for connection, I began photographing strangers across New York City. Through these encounters, I started to build a personal relationship with the city and the people within it. I am drawn to nontraditional beauty, individuality, and quiet forms of quirkiness that exist beyond superficial appearances.

By recognizing parts of myself in the people I photograph, the portraits became a way of creating familiarity within an unfamiliar environment. Over time, the series evolved into both a personal reflection and a visual record of gradually finding a sense of belonging.