Photographing strangers has become a popular form of blogging, and photographer Brandon Stanton has developed a popular site called 'Humans of New York' that has really caught on.
Brandon lost his job working in Chicago and decided to move to New York and pursue his love of photography. He captures the intriguing and the bizarre people that roam the streets of New York. With his charming personality, most people are pretty open to having their photo taken by him. Brandon walks the streets for a few hours every day with only his camera in hand. His page on Facebook has over 180,000 likes and his database of portraits is extremely vast.
Most people are weary when approached by strangers on the street, but Brandon only wants to get to know the person, take their portrait and tell their story.
Everyday People Documentaries
The 'Humans of New York' Project Catalogs Interesting Individuals
Trend Themes
1. Photography Blogging - The trend of photographing strangers and sharing their stories on blogs is becoming increasingly popular, providing opportunities for photographers to capture unique individuals and create engaging content.
2. Street Photography - The trend of capturing intriguing and diverse individuals in urban environments is gaining traction, presenting opportunities for photographers to document the human experience in cities.
3. Personality-driven Storytelling - The trend of using personal charm and empathy to connect with strangers and share their stories is growing, opening up opportunities for photographers to create compelling narratives and build online communities.
Industry Implications
1. Online Photography Platforms - The industry of online platforms that host and showcase photography, such as 'Humans of New York,' has the potential to disrupt traditional photography galleries by providing a more accessible and interactive way to engage with photographic art.
2. Digital Content Creation - The industry of creating and curating digital content, including photography blogs and social media platforms, can benefit from the trend of capturing and sharing compelling portraits, as it offers opportunities for building engaged audiences and monetization.
3. Documentary Filmmaking - The industry of documentary filmmaking can leverage the trend of personality-driven storytelling to create character-driven narratives that capture the authenticity and diversity of everyday people, inspiring new forms of visual storytelling.