A person lying on a wooden bench outdoors near a lake, with eyes closed, wearing a beige jacket and white pants, resting under a tree with a blanket and belongings nearby.

Projects

“A collection of projects that hold deep meaning for me. These are the stories that go beyond the surface—work that reflects purpose, connection, and the moments that stay with you long after they pass.” - Bethanie Hines

Life Is Living

The Life is Living Festival is a vibrant celebration of art, music, wellness, and community rooted in the spirit of social change. Held annually in West Oakland’s DeFremery Park (Lil Bobby Hutton Park), this free, community-centered event brings together hip-hop, environmental justice, and social activism in a powerful expression of collective care.

Founded in 2008 by Chinaka Hodge, Hodari Davis, and Marc Bamuthi Joseph, the festival honors the legacy of the Black Panther Party by uplifting its survival programs through offerings like free breakfast, wellness resources, and spaces for healing and connection. What began as a grassroots gathering has grown into a vibrant cultural cornerstone, featuring live music, dance, visual art, a Kids Zone, skate park, and an artist marketplace—transforming public space into a dynamic “family reunion” grounded in radical hospitality, where thousands gather each year to celebrate culture, foster resilience, and imagine new ways of supporting one another.

Since 2008, I have documented the spirit and evolution of Life is Living, capturing the energy, connection, and creativity that define the festival. My intention is to archive and preserve the legacy of  community that continues to affirm its presence, creativity, and vision for the future—reflecting art's enduring power to bring people together.

Four children sitting on a graffiti-covered ledge outdoors on a sunny day, with palm trees and a blue sky in the background.
A woman with dark skin, wearing a blue beret, a blue T-shirt that says "skating & tacos," plaid shirt tied around her waist, striped knee-high socks, and Converse sneakers, stands beside a skate rental cart with various roller skates and helmets at a
A woman is painting bright, colorful flowers on the face of a young girl with braided hair during an outdoor event. Several people are in the background, indicating a lively gathering.
A group of people, mostly children and young adults, gathered outdoors with several colorful bicycles, some riding and some standing, on a sunny day near a chain-link fence with clear blue sky in the background.
Close-up of a woman with styled dreadlocked hair, wearing jewelry and a striped top, outdoors against a blurred background.
A group of diverse women and a man, all wearing face masks and aprons, serving food at a community event under a tent. The table has bowls of chopped vegetables, condiments, and disposable cups with utensils.
A group of diverse women smiling and cheering at an outdoor event on a sunny day, with trees and tents in the background.
A woman with tattoos and leopard print clothing sitting at a table with three children, all smiling, at an outdoor event with tents and colorful signs in the background.
Two women hugging on a city street, wearing colorful and unique hats, with a blurred background of yellow vehicle and green trees.
Two men hugging outdoors under a clear blue sky, with palm trees and other trees in the background. One man is wearing a baseball cap with a Cincinnati Reds logo and a red shirt, while the other is in a black shirt. One is holding a water bottle.
A group of diverse people standing in front of a large colorful mural of a woman with artwork and banners around them, some raising fists, at a community or activist event.
Two young men sitting on a raised platform outdoors in daylight. One is wearing a white shirt with jewelry, and the other is dressed in black with a black cap and a scarf around his neck. Both are looking at the camera with relaxed expressions.
Person standing with back to camera, wearing a black cap and a black t-shirt with colorful text overlay that says "THEY HATE EVERY" during outdoor event, with other people and tents in the background.
A young woman with glasses and hoop earrings sitting on grass outdoors during golden hour, wearing a black mesh top with the words 'BE FEARLESS'. A small dog with a brown and white coat is on a leash near her.
A group of children and a woman gathered in front of a blackboard at an outdoor skateboarding event. The woman is sketching on the blackboard and the children are watching or drawing. Two performers are on a raised platform, one with a hat and sungla
Group of diverse people at an outdoor event, smiling and engaging, with trees and tents in the background.

Alvin Ailey Dance Theater

Bethanie Hines documented the rehearsal process for Jazz Island with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York, directed and choreographed by Maija Garcia. The work is adapted from Geoffrey Holder’s Caribbean folktale.

The creative process was rooted in deep exploration and reflection, inviting dancers to engage with story, character, conflict, and the concept of divine intervention. Within the rehearsal space, conversation became movement, and experimentation became a language of its own.

Guided by Maija Garcia’s vision, the room held a constant exchange between imagination and embodiment—where ideas were tested, reshaped, and brought into physical form. Through her lens, Bethanie captured the intimacy of this evolution: moments where the emotional depth of the work began to emerge and take shape in real time.

Her photographs reflect both the rigor and tenderness of the process, preserving a space where storytelling, spirituality, and movement intersect.

This series serves as a visual archive of the creative process in motion—documenting the layered journey of development, and offering an enduring record of Maija Garcia’s work as a director and choreographer.

A woman and a man practicing a martial arts technique in a group class, with other participants blurred in the background.
Black and white photo of dancers practicing ballet in a studio, with some balancing on one leg and arms extended, others stretching or waiting, and an instructor observing.
Two people practicing a martial arts move in a studio, with one person in red and black and the other in white, while others are sitting or lying on the floor in the background.
Dance rehearsal or class with multiple dancers practicing ballet or contemporary dance in a studio with large windows and city buildings outside.
Ballet dancers practicing in a dance studio with large windows, some dancers are on one leg with arms raised, others are on the floor stretching or resting, and a dance instructor is leading the class, all in black and white.
Two men practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a martial arts class, one holding the other in a ground position while a group of people watches in a spacious, bright studio with large windows.
A woman with dark hair tied back, wearing an orange sports bra and orange shorts, being assisted by a man in a black shirt. They are in a bright indoor studio, with a background of large windows.
Two people, a man and a woman, smiling and interacting in a gym or fitness studio, with other individuals blurred in the background.
Group of diverse women practicing ballet in a dance studio with large windows, high ceilings, and city buildings outside.
Four dancers lift a person in the air in a dance studio with large windows and white walls.
Two people dancing closely in a dance studio, surrounded by other dancers sitting and watching in the background.
A large group of people participating in a dance or exercise class inside a spacious, bright studio with floor-to-ceiling windows and a cityscape view.
Group of diverse dancers practicing ballet in a bright, spacious studio with large windows showing city buildings outside.
Two individuals practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu in a martial arts class, with one person executing a submission hold on the other, in a training room with spectators watching in the background.
People practicing dance or fitness in a brightly lit studio with large windows, some lifting their arms and balancing on one leg.
A woman with dark skin and dreadlocks styled in a high bun, wearing earrings, a gold necklace, a gray hoodie, and matching sweatpants, looks to the side with a neutral expression, in a well-lit indoor setting.
Group of people in workout clothes sitting and stretching on the floor of a fitness studio, with a man standing and leaning against a ballet barre.
Smiling man in a sleeveless striped shirt waving with both hands inside a modern building with large windows and views of city buildings.
Group of diverse people smiling and posing together indoors, some sitting and some standing, with a white wall and closed door in the background.
Group of ballet dancers practicing in a dance studio, with a man in a black tank top and loose pants in the foreground performing an arabesque, surrounded by other dancers stretching or standing.

Nature Swagger

Bethanie Hines is a contributing photographer for Nature Swagger, a project by Rue Mapp that celebrates Black joy, healing, and connection in the outdoors. The work brings together stories and images that highlight the presence and experiences of Black communities in spaces where they have often been overlooked.

Through her lens, Bethanie captures moments of freedom, reflection, and belonging—images that feel grounded, alive, and deeply connected to both people and place. Her work on this project reflects her ongoing commitment to storytelling that honors identity, community, and the power of being in relationship with nature.

Brochure titled "Nature Swagger" displayed outdoors among fallen autumn leaves and moss-covered rocks, featuring photos of various outdoor activities and groups of people exploring a forested area.
Family of three walking hand in hand through a green, wooded park with tall trees.
A woman in jeans, sneakers, and a jacket sits on the forest ground, holding and smiling at a baby wrapped in a green blanket, with a large tree trunk behind them.
Three boys are examining and working on a large tree stump outdoors, surrounded by fallen branches and twigs.
Three people, a woman and two children, smiling and hugging in a forest with large trees and green foliage.
A woman outdoors in sunlight, wearing a bright green jacket over a t-shirt that reads 'OutDog Afro', with a denim shirt tied around her waist, looking up with a smile.
Group of people on a dirt trail in a forest, surrounded by tall trees and lush green foliage, some people pointing and looking up.
Group of seven people, diverse ages and ethnicities, standing outdoors on a trail in a forest, smiling and dressed in casual outdoor clothing with some holding walking sticks, surrounded by tall trees and dense greenery.
Family of four sitting on a wooden bridge in a lush forest, smiling and enjoying each other's company.

Intimacy with Strangers

Intimacy with Strangers is a body of work captured over the last 6 years of being the official photographer for Life is Living Festivals. Life is Living, is a national project utilizing under-resourced public urban spaces for a creative exercise in intentional community engagement and design. Springing from the idea that communities of color must be included in a new, clean, green economy and rooted in hip-hop and youth street cultures, these festivals have gathered thousands of neighborhood members at urban parks in Oakland, Harlem, Houston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Chicago for day-long immersive experiences that provide a cultural platform to advance a collective community-building agenda.

In my opinion, Black men and boys have been broadly misread and misrepresented in this country. They are seen as a group, as a threat, and as targets. Black men are not seen as individuals who are vulnerable, navigating their own complexity and straddling multifaceted identities. Intimacy with Strangers is my attempt at capturing their nuance, individuality, and humanness.

I invite you to see them through my lens - beyond the fallacies, and within their grace.

A large crowd of people gathered outdoors, some making hand gestures and taking photos, suggesting participation in a protest or rally.
Three young boys enjoying ice pops while sitting on a park bench, with trees and a sidewalk in the background.
Close-up of a young child's face wearing a baseball cap, showing a peek of a bright smile.
A black and white photograph of an older man with a gray beard and mustache, wearing a black knit cap and a light striped collared shirt, standing in a crowd during a protest or march. Behind him, there are several people holding signs, and a street
Close-up of multiple hands reaching towards each other over a textured surface, with rings on some fingers and a smartwatch on one wrist, in black and white.
A group of children, some with their mouths open as if singing or shouting, are walking outdoors. They are wearing T-shirts with a graphic and text that says 'The Pride of the Panther' and features an image of students.
Three young men wearing black tactical gear and berets standing outdoors with trees in the background.
Black and white photo of an older man sitting outside, smiling slightly, wearing a baseball cap with the Chicago Bulls logo, earphones, and a T-shirt, with a young person in the background walking away.
A young man with short hair, wearing a striped dress shirt, bow tie, suspenders, and earrings standing outdoors. The background is blurred with trees and sky.
A young man with a beard and afro hairstyle wearing a USA flag shirt and necklaces, standing outdoors with trees and houses in the background, captured in black and white.
A black and white photo of a man wearing a cap with the Atlanta Braves logo, a jacket, and a white shirt, outdoors on a cloudy day.
Person taking a photo of their reflection in a window with a torn or damaged screen, with a silhouette of a statue or monument visible outside.
A young man with a mustache and beard wearing a black baseball cap backwards, a camouflage jacket, and a white T-shirt, smiling outdoors.