Brandon Stanton's Humans of New York – in pictures

"I really don't have time to talk, these shadows are changing every second" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton: "I told him that I wanted to feature the detail in his hands and face. So he did this" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton: "One of those rare occasions when Dad is wearing a jacket covered in cartoons, and you're not embarrassed at all" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"I'm 99 years old. Everything from my neck down is shit. But everything from my neck up is just as good as everyone else's. How lucky is that?" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton: "This mural was housed on a vacant lot surrounded by a huge chain-link fence. I asked several young men to follow me through a hole in the fence, but nobody was willing to take the risk. After several minutes, I finally found two people with the balls to do it" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"You should never say: 'I'm poor.' Instead, you should always say: 'I live in abundance.' Give it a try. I did it for a whole month once. People were buying me lunches, theatre tickets – it was great." Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"I'm an illustrator." "Where can I see your work?' "Trust me, you've already seen it" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton: "I've seen this guy several times. I don't think he owns a shirt" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"My wife passed away a few years back. Her name was Barbara, I used to call her Ba. My name was Lawrence, she used to call me La. When she died, I changed my name to BaLa" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"Us rollerbladers get no respect" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"If there isn't a crooked fingerprint on the back, you know it isn't mine" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"I'm an artist, and dressing is my art" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

"His name is Kingsley. He pretty much does what he wants" Photograph: Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton: "These two were watching clouds in Washington Square Park, just like this" Photograph: Brandon Stanton