I’m Harry Williams, born in 1970 in Columbus, Ohio, and I’ve dedicated my life to capturing the stories of marginalized communities through photography. After graduating from West Jefferson High School, I earned my photography degree from The Ohio State University in 1995. In 1999, driven by a passion for exploration, I sold all my possessions to travel and work on a significant body of photographic work. That transformative year took me through Southeast Asia, where I documented the Black Hmong community in Northern Vietnam. This experience broadened my perspective in ways I’d never imagined, igniting my commitment to human connections and storytelling. I am especially drawn to portraits because of the deep human connection they reveal—the powerful reflection you see when you recognize yourself in someone else’s eyes. I also photograph hands, which, like faces, tell a personal story through their cuts, wrinkles, and textures. I aim to make these tactile details as vivid as possible, so the viewer can almost feel the skin, inviting a connection that’s both visual and visceral. My current work documents the Jones and Ellis Street community in San Francisco, a marginalized area I hope to honor by capturing its resilience and vibrancy. I’m honored to share my work both nationally and internationally, including in the 2023 de Young Open. My dedication to cultural representation and community engagement continues to shape my artistic vision, allowing me to contribute a voice to contemporary photography.