Humans of New York is an art project that began in 2010 when photographer Brandon Stanton started talking to ordinary people on the streets of New York and capturing their image. Since its inception it has become extraordinarily popular; HONY is now a best-selling book and has spawned many more 'Humans' of other cities across the US and around the world.

One such project is Humans of Dublin, which had been running for almost a year and has gained a large following through Facebook. We're often told by the media that having our noses pressed up against a smartphone while checking for status updates is isolating us and making us less human but in this case it genuinely brings us closer together.

Have a look at the portrait of a Dublin pensioner as he sits on a cheery blue bench at Dun Laoghaire harbour and tells a story that will bring a tear to your eye. Just when you despair of the technological enslavement of humanity, someone comes along and gives you a reason to check Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/thehumansofdublin