Hemen Khanna Biography:

Hemen is a 23-year-old film photographer from Portland, Oregon currently living in Chicago. Hemen’s journey as a photographer began when he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 2018 to study biology at Case Western Reserve University. After taking a film photography class for fun at Case Western, Hemen unearthed a passion for taking photos, developing film, and making prints in the darkroom. After four years, five classes, hundreds of darkroom hours, and countless prints later, Hemen graduated from Case Western in May of 2022 with a minor in photography to accompany his B.A. in Biology.

By the time Hemen graduated, photography had become more than a hobby. Photography had become a healing instrument for Hemen that helped him overcome personal struggles during his time in Cleveland. Taking photos and making prints allowed Hemen to externalize thoughts and emotions previously kept to himself, often indescribable with words. The darkroom became a space where Hemen learned how to express himself and find peace during difficult times. 

On breaks from school, Hemen continued to use photography to externalize what he saw and felt in the world around him. During summers spent at home, Hemen was drawn towards the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, something he had taken for granted upon moving to Cleveland. Hemen built a passion for landscape photography and documenting his perception of the world around him during these summers he spent photographing the Oregon Coast, Olympic Mountains, and scenes of downtown Portland, 

Since graduating, Hemen has continued to explore his passion for landscape photography, which fits well with his love for traveling and exploring the outdoors. Today, Hemen takes a simpler approach to photography by using his camera to document the world as he sees it. From the bustling Chicago cityscape to the rolling hills of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and up to the remote mountain villages in the Himalayas, Hemen continues to capture the world as it is lived in by himself and others. He currently resides in Seattle, Washington, where he is studying Epidemiology at the University of Washington.