Created by American photographer Brandon Stanton in November of 2010, the Humans of New York blog features striking portraits of ordinary people collected on the streets of New York City, along with short interviews about their life story, future ambitions, personal style or anything they feel like talking about.
Today, with two best-selling books and close to 16 million Facebook followers, it has gained such an incredible amount of popularity that the concept has become a worldwide phenomenon. Wanna meet new people from all around the globe? Discover our selection of 6 lesser-known photojournalistic blogs inspired by Humans of New York!
Originally known as Bombay, Mumbai is the largest city in India, which is known for its vibrant culture, spirituality, crazy festivals, intricate fashion and, of course, for being the second most populous country in the world. With an estimated 18.4 million people, Mumbai sure has a lot of interesting people to meet, which is why Humans of Bombay is such a compelling page to follow!
Capital of the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most popular urban destinations and the beloved home of Debra Barraud, the young photographer behind Humans of Amsterdam. According to her, the best thing about street photography is getting to know people who she probably wouldn’t meet otherwise. The people is what truly defines a city, and each person’s story is a piece of art!
Based at the foot of the stunning Alborz mountain range, Tehran is the capital of Iran and Persia’s busiest metropolis. But through the smog and crazy traffic, you can find its true treasure : the people! Founded by Iranian journalist and photographer Shirin Barghi – who has since moved to New York -, Humans of Tehran offers a unique, unapologetic and non-stereotyped look into Iran’s modern society.
In Rome, la vita è bella… In a city so full of history, every street is an adventure, every corner is a playground and every face is a story waiting to be told. Get a taste of Italy’s fun and community-oriented culture through Humans of Rome! Its founder, Marco Massa, knows how to illustrate the heartbeat of a city and has a soft spot for the elderly, as he once stated in an interview with The Local magazine : « The old are willing to learn about what you’re doing, they always have great advice and they are great talkers. »
On to my personal favorite! In constant evolution, the South Korean capital is a fantastic blend of tradition and innovation, where ultra-modern technology and avant-garde fashion meets feng shui, ancient Buddhist temples and centuries-old pine trees. The energy and spirit of its people is quite mesmerizing, and the team of photographers and interviewers behind Humans of Seoul knows exactly how to capture it.
Right on the coastline of the Arabian sea is a gigantic city called Karachi. Often called “the Gateway to Pakistan”, it’s the second most populous city in the world (just after Shanghai, China) and one of the most diverse places in South Asia. Much like its aforementioned Tehrani equivalent, Humans of Karachi paints a more authentic picture of a city that’s known for its violent history rather than its cultural heritage.
In an article about the impact of Humans of New York, we just couldn’t resist the urge to talk about its awesome furry counterparts, Dogs of New York and Felines of New York! Even if they aren’t related to each other, both projects are meant to honor the universal bond between humans and their pets and to showcase the uniqueness of that relationship in a candid, good-humored way.
What are your favorite “people photography” blogs ?
