On most days we view an image and immediately draw a conclusion about its meaning. We quickly move on with our lives, secure in our understanding of what we saw. what I thought I saw is an evolving photo-essay book that challenges its audience to stop for a moment and question such certainty.

As the stories unravel the complicated and unexpected lives behind the images, the reader must deconstruct the layers of misconceptions, biases and stereotypes behind that initial glance. This book project is about people—a fantastically diverse group of people—and the way we see them. It is about preconceptions: the mistakes we make and the stories we miss because we perceive the world through an imperfect and highly personal visual lens.

Help us capture these stories, by telling us your "what-I-thought-I-saw" stories and impressions.