Perhaps what is so stunning about Humans of New York (HONY) is its celebration of humanness. The website is built around two very basic premises: photographs and short quotes. For example, a portrait of a young, well-dressed woman sitting on a bench is paired with the quote, "I'm afraid if I don't choose a path soon, life will choose one for me." Another photo, of a happy-looking young girl, is paired with the conversation, "What was the happiest moment of your life?" "I don't think I have one yet but it's probably coming up and it's going to be a surprise." The photoblog was started by Brandon Stanton, a former bond trader who decided in 2010 to pursue his dream of being a photographer. Since then, HONY has garnered huge national attention, including raising money for schools and community centers and taking trips to the White House.