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 Georgia-born Brandon Stanton worked in Chicago before he was
seduced by the camera and moved to New York City. In 2010, he
created the Humans of New York blog, taking a photographic
census of New York City.
The blog gradually drew more than a million followers on
Facebook and half a million on the microblogging website Tumblr,
leading to the publication of 400 of Stanton's photos.
Stanton spoke to Reuters about his passion for photography, the
book's optimism and how he connects to the people of New York
City.
Q: What do you like best about spotting people, taking
their pictures?
A: The freedom to control my own time and my own work is
very gratifying. So is the opportunity to interact with people
in an organic way that's not dictated by some limited job
function.
Q: How do you structure your day?
A: I photograph every day for about two or three hours, usually
before the sun goes down, which is when the light is best for
photography. I do it every single day. I don't like to take days
off.
Q: Is there any difference in the way you feel about your
work now as opposed to when you first began doing it in 2010?
A: When I first started, it was pure obsession, but now
it's a matter of discipline. It's kind of like long-distance
running. You have to practice every day. If you take a few days
off, it's hard to get back out there.
Q: Your book conveys a spirit of optimism and is quite
upbeat. Do you think that tells the whole story of life in New
York City?
A: It's interesting that the book comes across that way
because I sometimes get the opposite point of view about the
Humans of New York blog since I often ask people about their
greatest struggle or saddest moment. But if the book feels more
upbeat, I think that's OK. So much journalism describes
bloodshed and despair and sex scandals. What's wrong with
showing the other side of life?
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 Q: "Humans of New York" does give people a
warm and reassuring view of life in New York City.
A: I hear that all the time. People tell me, "Thanks for
convincing my mom, it's OK to live here."
Q. Do you ever photograph news in the conventional sense?
A: The book reflects everyday life. When you photograph in
poor neighborhoods, you still find people enjoying life. That's the
more normal representation.
Q: What have you learned that is valuable to you personally
by talking to the humans of New York?
A: It's the whole kaleidoscope ... What I've
gathered from the people I've talked with is a breadth of experience
and wisdom.
Q: What compels you to document the lives of New Yorkers as
opposed to people elsewhere?
A: There are 10 times as many people here per square mile as
elsewhere. There's also a culture of expression, and also
nonconformity, that allows for many types of personalities. I could
do this elsewhere, but New York obviously is where I think I can do
the best work.
Q: What's next?
A: I still feel I have a lot of room to grow within the
"Humans of New York" format in terms of improving the storytelling
and photography. I could also travel and spend two-week periods
working in different places. I'd like to do more long-form writing.
I majored in history. I love biographies.
(Editing by Patricia Reaney and Jan
Paschal)
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