Bruce Gilden on Swedish TV

[anjoca76]

The man is full of contempt and anger towards the people on the streets. Why does a man of his age have to act like some hoodlum?

He looks like and acts like a cheap pawnshop owner but by some freak luck his a member with magnum, so he has to justify that membership by going out of his way to act like some temperamental artist. His not an artist, his work is not original, his tactics are not original, even his fake Brooklyn hood persona is not original.


His videos are a terrible publicity for street photographers. The man is an embarrassment.

Sorry, I know he has fans but that says more about our vulgar culture than Gilden's value as a photographer.

Just because it's, in your opinion, vulgar doesn't mean it's not art. Why is he not an artist? He creates art. You may not like his art, but that's neither here nor there.

 

[Michael Markey]

The man is full of contempt and anger towards the people on the streets. Why does a man of his age have to act like some hoodlum?

He looks like and acts like a cheap pawnshop owner but by some freak luck his a member with magnum, so he has to justify that membership by going out of his way to act like some temperamental artist. His not an artist, his work is not original, his tactics are not original, even his fake Brooklyn hood persona is not original.


His videos are a terrible publicity for street photographers. The man is an embarrassment.

Sorry, I know he has fans but that says more about our vulgar culture than Gilden's value as a photographer.

For a more balanced assessment read again the post which you quoted.

 

[stompyq]

Thanks for posting this. I enjoyed it. I see nothing wrong with his style or his behavior in the video. I'am not much of a fan of the actual photographs but can't understand why some people on this thread feel he's full of contempt and anger? Looks like perfectly normal to me. The dude has some serious guts to pull off what he does and he gets a huge amount of respect from me for successfully doing it.

 

[whited3]

I think a world full of Bruce Gildens would get along just fine. Just because he throws out the majority of social formalities and speaks his mind doesn't mean he's angry, or a bad person. I find his persona really entertaining to be honest. I grew up in a small town, but have lived in NYC for almost 10 years. I can tell you, there is a time and a place to smile & say hi to strangers, and there is a time and a place to be a little Gilden-ish. Either end of the spectrum can cause social outrage.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Oh god, here we go again...

Thank you to Bob Michaels for posting links to BG's other work. I'd never use his tactics, but Gilden is an originator not an imitator -- his work is his own.
His work got him a gig at Magnum and is in demand around the world...not too sure how many of us here can say the same thing. Nuff said.

 

[finguanzo]

Oh god, here we go again...

Thank you to Bob Michaels for posting links to BG's other work. I'd never use his tactics, but Gilden is an originator not an imitator -- his work is his own.
His work got him a gig at Magnum and is in demand around the world...not too sure how many of us here can say the same thing. Nuff said.

Yes.............

 

[kbg32]

Whether you like Gilden's work or not, he speaks with more passion, energy, synergy of the street and his subjects then someone like Meyerowitz.

 

[kbg32]

".....even his fake Brooklyn hood persona is not original." - Hsg

Bruce Gilden is a noted street photographer, known for his work in New York City. Wikipedia
Born: October 16, 1946 (age 67), Brooklyn, NY
Education: Pennsylvania State University
Books: Coney Island, 1969-1986
Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US & Canada

Once you're born in the hood, the hood never really leaves you, wherever that hood may be.

 

[xxloverxx]

Love his style of shooting, as well as what and how he sees.

 

[RFluhver]

Don't have much comment on his technique. To each his own. His gutter vocabulary however makes him appear to be of limited intelligence.

Watch a few of his vids, read up on him and see what I mean. He is a very intelligent and compassionate individual.

The man is absolutely original. That's arguably why they got him into Magnum.

What sours Bruce Gilden's "style" isn't Bruce Gilden or his mannerisms. It all those Bruce Gilden wannabes, whether they be accidental or intentional!

 

[Brian Atherton]

A head's up:

Bruce Gilden is book signing in London Friday, 11 April:

http://www.thephotographersgallery.org.uk/bruce-gilden-2

 

[Rodchenko]

Someone should go up to him and set off a flash direct in his face. I wonder what the reaction would be.

 

[finguanzo]

Its been done at least once. He laughed..

 

[zauhar]

There's a arts & culture program here in Sweden called Kobra that aired an interview with Bruce Gilden yesterday. Found the clip on YT and thought I'd share it with you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdbh7BimRz8

He's quite the character! 🙂

Never saw an interview with him - what a fabulous guy!

Thanks for posting that.

Interesting that he says he is not a confrontational person, but chooses to push himself. That is something for everyone on RFF to contemplate - the need to take an emotional risk.

Randy

 

[jsrockit]

Whether you like Gilden's work or not, he speaks with more passion, energy, synergy of the street and his subjects then someone like Meyerowitz.

Meyerowitz is a genuinely nice guy.

 

[Hsg]

I met Bruce Gilden in one of his lectures. He has a average height, small stature, and his clothing style does not match his face - he dresses 'younger'. He overdresses outside to look bigger.

I asked him, are you going to scare a few old ladies today, he looked at me and smiled.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Bruce Gilden's work is all about this question: "Do the ends justify the means?" I am not so sure myself.