Bruce Gilden's new book reviewed

[Timmyjoe]

I realize Bruce Gilden is an acquired taste, you either hate him or love him. I've never been a huge fan, though some of his work I've found interesting.

He's got a new book out "Only God Can Judge Me" that, for me, falls into the latter category. It's a book of his in your face style portraits of women drug addicts & prostitutes. When I heard about the book my first reaction was "This has been done to death." but when I actually saw a few pages, the thing that makes these images different, is that each image is displayed with a quote from the person, giving a short summation of their life.

This made them come alive in a way most "homeless people on the streets" images don't. Also, Gilden seems much more connected to these subjects than he does with some of his other work.

Here's a review:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-sight/wp/2018/12/20/ravaged-by-drugs-and-alcohol-these-women-reminded-the-photographer-of-his-own-mother

Best,
-Tim

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Thanks for posting the link. Like you, I bounce back and forth about Gilden and his work. Sometimes it feels like he's simply taking advantage of people on the street strictly for establishing his celebrity status. But then when he produces stuff like in this new book, I feel like he contributes something important to my education as a citizen.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Bruce Gilden is much more connected to any of his subjects than average photog is able to. This is why Bruce Gilden is known and averages ain't.

I'll chime in later to check on those who will poop on him as at any threads where photogs like him are mentioned.

 

[al1966]

I am just going to order or pre order the book.

 

[crsantin]

I was never a fan of Gilden's ambush approach to his subjects. This seems to be a bit of a different approach so I'm interested in finding out more. I have mixed feelings about the samples found on that link. I like that he is in tight but I'm not a fan of the processing or editing.

 

[jawarden]

Gilden is tough to enjoy. I like what I can see of this series though because of the message and the willing participation of his subjects. It's a difficult subject to photograph but I think he's being respectful to the women, which is not always the case with his work.

I realize Bruce Gilden is an acquired taste, you either hate him or love him. I've never been a huge fan, though some of his work I've found interesting.

He's got a new book out "Only God Can Judge Me" that, for me, falls into the latter category. It's a book of his in your face style portraits of women drug addicts & prostitutes. When I heard about the book my first reaction was "This has been done to death." but when I actually saw a few pages, the thing that makes these images different, is that each image is displayed with a quote from the person, giving a short summation of their life.

This made them come alive in a way most "homeless people on the streets" images don't. Also, Gilden seems much more connected to these subjects than he does with some of his other work.

Here's a review:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...n-reminded-the-photographer-of-his-own-mother

Best,
-Tim

 

[giganova]

Absolutely love it! Just to think that human faces have been pictured since the dawn of photography, and yet Bruce Gilden is able to give this incredibly basic concept such a new meaning and relevance!

Although, it is a bit close to his previous "Faces" project and not as strong (see picture below). But I can see that the Leica S with its high resolution gave his latest work more of a punch than the previous 35mm film work, and the amount of details that is captured in the human face photos make it much more dramatic.

Bruce Gilden is known for changing his style of photography ever couple of years and I cannot wait to see in which direction he will go next!

Bruce Gilden is much more connected to any of his subjects than average photog is able to.

Exactly, and this makes his work so unique. I saw a few videos of him and are always amazed how much time he spends talking to his subject (sometimes confronting them), to the point where he often forgets to take photos.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I was never a fan of Gilden's ambush approach to his subjects. This seems to be a bit of a different approach so I'm interested in finding out more. I have mixed feelings about the samples found on that link. I like that he is in tight but I'm not a fan of the processing or editing.

If you watch videos with him you'll find out it is often not an ambush.
He would meet a person and take picture on next day. As posed portrait.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Check out the podcast A Small Voice - the episode with Bruce Gilden was a really good conversation (the best I've heard on that podcast, so far) and did a lot to enlighten as to who the guy is and why/how he does what he does.

I've been a fan of his since I found him, because I think it's clear he is an artist and an original, sincere voice.