young & queer

This project captures the spirit of young queer people, especially my college friends and their extended circles in Edmond and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I photograph them in their own spaces and in their interactions with the world around them—with their environments and with the people they love. Through both close-up and environmental portraits, the work holds a sense of intimacy and immediacy.

The images are made in bedrooms, studies, and backyards—places that feel personal and lived-in. These spaces are not just backgrounds but extensions of the subjects themselves. Beds, tables, and decorated walls become part of the portrait, reflecting identity and presence. Light plays an important role, shaping mood and creating a subtle tension between the person and the space.

This project is grounded in real connections. I spend time with each person, building trust so the photographs feel unguarded and honest rather than staged. The goal is not just to document, but to create images that feel close, personal, and attentive.

I’m interested in human experience, especially at a stage of becoming. These are young adults in transition, navigating the space between queerness and adulthood. That tension feels fragile, uncertain, and full of possibility.

The queer community is often misunderstood or reduced to simplified narratives. These photographs move beyond appearance, focusing instead on humanity—the tenderness, awkwardness, and youthfulness that make each person singular. The work holds onto fleeting moments of change, where identity is still forming and shifting.

Seeing others carefully and closely is a way of building compassion. I hope this project offers a more intimate and empathetic understanding of queer lives within our community.

Unknown's avatar

Author: qnguyenian

Film photographer

Leave a comment