Man reading on a bench in Hong Kong, China, 2014. [Photo provided to China Daily Asia/Courtesy of Steve McCurry]

I want to go to China again – it hangs on my list of places I'd like to travel. I also want to travel around the US, because I haven't done as much of that. Those are two things on my list. There are a lot of interesting places in China. But it changes a lot – a lot of charm is going to be lost. The architecture used to be very unique, but they tear the buildings down and put up something new, usually not that great-looking. But this happens everywhere else – New York is the same. Practically nothing is left the way it was 100 years ago.

What's your typical kit these days?

I use a 24-70 f2.8 – that's my main lens. When I wander down the street, I just have the camera and bag I'm travelling with. When I'm working, I just have the camera – no extra lenses. I like to keep it very minimal. But I have other cameras; I have my digital Hasselblad and my phone.

Do you take a lot of photos with your mobile phone?

Yes, all the time. Sometimes, if the quality is okay, I publish them. But they're not big – just eight-by-tens or something.

What subjects interest you? How do you make them comfortable?

You decide the subjects based on how you respond to people. Some of them have interesting faces. You have to recognise something that's really special. I use a bit of humour to help them defuse the awkwardness and self-consciousness. I think humour can be a great ally in a photo shoot.