I think in order to be a great photographer, you must have a special perspective and an ability to compose a frame that shows your audience what you see and what they might have missed.

A great photographer might actually make you jealous of the way they see the world.
But a great photographer will also make you blessed that he or she has given you a glimpse into it.

Olivia Chow,

Photo by Humans of New York

As some of you probably already know, yesterday, I went through the "Humans of New York" blog all day.  (Thanks a lot, Facebook, for alienating my privacy!)  My sister, Olivia Chow, a fashion designer and stylist was stopped recently by them to take a photo of her.

The photographer, Brandon Stanton, liked her outfit and posted it with the caption, "Look at this radiant peacock I found."  At the end of the day, she had more than 300 likes and 15+ comments.  I hadn't heard of this blog beforehand, but as I went through each photo clicking, "next... next.... Hahaha! Next..." my boyfriend left me online to do things.  I got so wrapped up in it that all of a sudden he returned asking, "How was your day?"

Stanton goes around New York City taking photos of different people and animals he spots.  He updates his photo blog frequently making me feel as if interesting things and beauty is happening all around us everyday.  He's a sucker for old people in love, matching colors, defined color, skull tattoos, cute kids, interesting fashion, crazy mustaches, and people who match the walls near them.  Sometimes the photos themselves are not the best, but the captions that go along side are what makes me click "like."  Their quotations will often add another element to the photo.  Its a glimpse into their lives and of who they are.

Here are some of my favorites:

I look like God. Don't I?

 

"Why do you want to take my photo?"

"You have a great face."

"I look like God. Don't I?"

On dark days I tend to focus on bright things.

Didn't feel a thing.

Get out and stretch.

A mythical creature

I saw this thing from 50 yards away. And for one beautiful moment, 

I thought that I had discovered a mythical creature.

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

At first I asked for the older girl's photo, 

but then the younger one put her hand up 

and said: "Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

I don't think there's a person in New York that

I wouldn't choose to photograph if they were in

a certain place at a certain time.

This is the face of a man who's not too happy

about being photographed with a stroller.

I'm ready.

"I need you to put your entire personality into this next shot."

"OK. I'm ready."

I made him wear it.

"Well I always dress like this -- then I bought him the jacket and made him wear it."

Life settles you down.

"Sorry he's so shy."

"Actually, I think he came through quite beautifully."

"That's funny you asked. Because I saw your camera and I was hoping you would take my picture."

Diva gotta drink.

Those eyes.

"Life is a sad song, but those are the most beautiful."