These two were acting like complete teenagers. When I walked up, she was nuzzling her head against his shoulder. She giggled the entire time I talked with them, while he kept a big goofy grin on his face. And whenever I asked about their relationship, she clutched his arm, looked at him just like this, giggled, then said: "We're not telling!" Image: HONY Facebook page
When I tell people I work for an online art gallery they typically envision sculpture, painting and mixed media pieces. Photography is a large and amazing part of Zatista’s gallery too, but photographer Brandon Stanton is a different type of photographer than we’re used to. Or is he?
"I just want to be financially independent while I'm still young enough to enjoy it." "Are you close?" "Well, I've still got two daughters that need to go to college. So no." Image: HONY Facebook page
Stanton began taking pictures of strangers in 2010. His initial goal was to photograph 10,000 strangers in New York and learn a bit more about their lives. Not surprisingly, the HONY (Humans of New York) project became much more than that – there are now over 4 million followers of HONY on social media, myself being one of them. I look at posts daily, and I only wish Stanton would post more often. Here’s an example from the HONY Facebook page:
"For the longest time, I was so focused on being deaf in my left ear, that I almost forgot my other ear was perfectly fine." Image: HONY Facebook page
This type of contemporary photography depicts a certain realism. Of course paintings, photographs and mixed media works can also fall under the genre of realism, but to me these photographic images and snippets about the subjects dive deep and paint a vivid picture in an instant, which I find truly amazing. Now, when I walk through downtown San Francisco, Chicago, or even through an airport, I see people in a different way. I picture them as a part of HONY and I imagine what their quotes might be.
"He sings to each of his kids individually when it's time for them to go to bed." Image: HONY Facebook page
The HONY phenomenon has prompted many people start their own forms of HONY, such as Humans of: Sarah Lawrence, Oslo, India, San Francisco, Berlin, Toronto and many more. This doesn’t necessarily make every photographer an artist, or does it? I believe we’re all artists in some way, shape or form.
"She made me take ballet." Image: HONY Facebook page
What do you think? Are these photographs traditional art, or do they convey a different message? You can check out more work from Humans of New York here. Let us know what you think on WallSpin!
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Thank you for sharing this brilliant man and his outstanding work…..Brandon Stanton is lighting the way.