The series Class of 2015 is a longitudinal portrait project utilizing photographs and video interviews to examine the formation of identity among members of the Class of 2015 at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. The Class of 2015 is made up of 481 students, with representatives from 49 of the 50 US states, 20% of whom are students of color, 13% are first generation college students and 4% are international students. For my series, 39 students responded to an open call and have agreed to be photographed each semester during their time in college. Participants were asked to choose a location of personal importance and were encouraged to dress comfortably. The variety of responses to this open-ended request reflects the individuality and cultural background of this diverse group. From jacket-and-tie to swimming trunks, from sports fields to the back door of a dorm building, these choices begin to build a sense of each person’s identity.

Through these portraits I hope to examine the emotional, physical and psychological changes that take place during the formative college years, as well as reflecting on this community as a microcosm of the contemporary cultural zeitgeist of America circa 2015.