'Humans of New York' did not result from a flash on inspiration. It grew from five years of experimenting, tinkering, and messing up.

I grew up in New York.

I've done commercial work for Amtrak. However, that was branded as Stanton. I stipulated at the very beginning that it was not going to involve 'Humans of New York,' that I wasn't going to promote it on 'Humans of New York.' So nobody who follows me really even knows that I did it.

I've got 50,000 Facebook fans inside of Iran, and Facebook is banned in Iran. I think the people who follow 'Humans of New York' the most after New York City is Tehran. I have a really special affection for the Persian people because they've really taken to my work.

I grew up in New York in an English-speaking environment.

I grew up in New York City, and I'm a city boy, born and bred.