Bruce GIlden's Kakuza photo

[Paul T.]

There a good, brief interview with Bruce Gilden about his well-known Yakuza photo in today's Guardian (yes, Yakuza, not Kakuza. sorry gents, nothing implied. Gulp).

Not much about f-stops, but a little about how he created a rapport with his subjects:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/nov/20/best-shot-bruce-gilden

 

[kmerenkov]

Wow, he can tell stories about his photographs in an interesting way.
Was interesting reading at morning, thanks

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before a bunch of folks chime in with lunkhead comments about Gilden's work.

 

[varjag]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before a bunch of folks chime in with lunkhead comments about Gilden's work.

Yeah, about how this annoying yakuza shooter wouldn't have balls to shoot like that in their 'hood/schoolyard/campus 🙂

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Exactly! He should take photos on a Somali pirate ship or in Afghanistan or inside a volcano. That or take bokeh pictures of flowers and dogs. Nothing in between.

 

[maddoc]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before a bunch of folks chime in with lunkhead comments about Gilden's work.

I am not a big fan of Gilden's work but that photo is great and his story very interesting. Alone, a foreigner getting that close to Yakuza is remarkable.

Thanks for the link !

Cheers,

Gabor

 

[Nh3]

Gilden is the epitome of actor/photographer phenomenon. He enjoys playing the role of a photographer.

 

[Paul T.]

He enjoys playing the role of a photographer.

Which is obligatory, isn't it? Before you do a role, you act a role. If you're a general, it is important to act like a general. If you act like you know what you're doing, people will think you know what you're doing.

This little snippet is interesting, because I believe it was on here that people accused Gilden of picking on defenceless people, and of being stylised. THis photo ain't.

 

[Nh3]

Which is obligatory, isn't it? Before you do a role, you act a role. If you're a general, it is important to act like a general. If you act like you know what you're doing, people will think you know what you're doing.

This little snippet is interesting, because I believe it was on here that people accused Gilden of picking on defenceless people, and of being stylised. THis photo ain't.

Actually, its far more complicated than that. You can role play a photographer but like all acting its empty and fake in the end of the day.

I used to go to all these events mostly to learn and practice but I would always feel like a faker and feel uneasy. I was role playing a photographer.

Gilden is role-playing just a different version of Weegee.

 

[sirius]

Thankfully, Nh3 is on my ignore list. So as long as no one quotes him I will be blissfully ignorant and peaceful.

I overheard some Magnum staff talking about Bruce. Apparently he is very popular with the fashion industry. They said he understands how to talk to his clients and doesn't bring on the ego. He knows that it's often the stylist who has the final say.

I guess all said, I'm generally a great fan of the Magnum photographers. I see them as having achieved a sense of authorship that sets them apart from the volumous crowd of photographers out there. I look for authorship in my own development. From the M photographers I have met, they are still just regular people struggling to make it work.

cheers

 

[rlouzan]

I´ve seen those two before!!!😱
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Kray

 

[Sparrow]

I´ve seen those two before!!!😱
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Kray

that still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, DB can certainly take a snap

 

[rlouzan]

It´s the Gilligan hat😀.

I am not a big fan of Gilden's work but that photo is great and his story very interesting. Alone, a foreigner getting that close to Yakuza is remarkable.

Thanks for the link !

Cheers,

Gabor

 

[Papercut]

like Gabor, I am not a huge fan of Gilden's "in your face" street work, but this image and the short story with it show a different side to him: the side where he collaborates with his subjects to produce a stunning picture. Excellent! thanks for the link 🙂

 

[Nh3]

I´ve seen those two before!!!😱
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Kray

Right on! I knew something was not right with Gilden's shot or I had seen it before... just cognitive dissonance.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Thankfully, Nh3 is on my ignore list. So as long as no one quotes him I will be blissfully ignorant and peaceful.

Same! Thanks to everyone else in advance for your cooperation.

 

[Nh3]

Now I'm so depressed to know that I'm in ignore list of people that I don't even know or remember any of their posts.

If you guys are so sensitive maybe you should join the "we love teddy bears forum" or "polar bear are cute forums" or something...

meh...

 

[rogue_designer]

It appears to be a theme within BG's work.

For what its worth - within all the "in your face-ness" he does often make some great images. IMO anyway.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I think it illustrates quite well that a photographer should be adaptable. Some people here who like "Street" appear to believe all the so called greats 'took' and never collaborated or asked. Whilst this is clearly true for the majority of some photographers work they will know that if they can get the extra shot or two by talking to the person/people in question then they can leave knowing they have a good ( or great ) shot in the bag.

Don't get me wrong, I aspire to be able to get perfect photographs from a one fleeting moment situation but if I can take more then I will take as many as possible before moving on.

As far as Gilden is concerned, I like much of his work and rather admire what I've seen of him, his attitude to his photography and to those that dismiss it. My manner and attitude is hugely different....but then I don't come from New York ( he does come from New York doesn't he?)😱

 

[abenner]

playing the contrarian here: he's basically admitting the shot was posed, isn't he?