Humans of New York, by Brandon Stanton
Humans of New York brings the vibrant streets of the Big Apple to life in your living room. Brandon Stanton's photo book, based on his wildly popular blog, is a treasure trove of real New Yorkers' stories that'll make you laugh, cry, and everything in between.
Stanton kicked off this project in 2010 with nothing but a camera and a curiosity about the strangers he passed every day. He'd stop folks on the street - from the suited-up Wall Street types to the eccentric artists in the Village - and simply ask, "Can I take your picture? What's your story?" The results are raw, honest, and utterly captivating.
The book features over 400 portraits, each paired with a quote or short story that gives you a glimpse into that person's world. You'll meet characters like the 100-year-old woman who shared her secret to longevity: "I never got married." Or the ex-con turned social worker who admitted, "The most difficult part of returning to society was learning to smile again."
What makes this book special is how it captures the essence of New York - its diversity, its struggles, its triumphs. One page might show a homeless man describing his daily routine, while the next features a Broadway actress recounting her first big break. It's this mix of experiences that makes Humans of New York so addictive.
Stanton's photography is striking too. He has a knack for capturing people in their element, whether it's a construction worker perched high above the city or a drag queen in full regalia in the East Village. The images are crisp, colorful, and full of life - just like the city itself.
“For those of you who may have picked up this book on a whim, I want to address one last element of Humans of New York. There are more than 15 million people who follow the blog every day on social media. If you are one of those people - thank you. Thank you for the positivity and kindness you bring to the comments section. Thank you for every time you’ve said hello to me on the street, and told me how much the blog means to you. Thank you for every time you’ve shared a post or told a friend about HONY. Thanks for all the money you’ve donated to the causes we’ve supported. I’m always asked how such a positive and uplifting community was created. The truth is that I’m not exactly sure. But the greatest group of people in the world seem to follow Humans of New York. And thank you so much for being part of it.”
Interesting Facts & Links:
The founder of Humans of New York, Brandon Stanton, originally had planned on taking 10,000 portraits and tying them to a map of the city, but the project evolved as he began to include stories about each person. Stanton was a bond trader in Chicago who lost his job, prompting him to discover a passion for street photography, something that became a worldwide phenomenon. In December 2012, Stanton took his popular concept overseas to spend two weeks in Iran, exposing many Americans for the first time to the daily lives of normal Iranian people. He spent a week in Boston after the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, traveled all over the globe on a 50-day “World Tour” in partnership with the United Nations, and traveled to Europe in 2015 to interview refugees in an effort to increase awareness for this crisis. TIME magazine named him as one of their “30 Under 30 Changing the World”.
Perhaps the best way to experience Humans of New York is to follow the blog itself on Facebook. The HONY Facebook page gained over one million followers before Stanton ever earned any money from the project. Or just link to the Humans of New York website directly to learn more.
This Is The Human Behind "Humans Of New York" | Mashable Docs
We follow Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind the popular Humans of New York blog, as he goes in search of subjects to photograph.