Bruce Gilden's tactics, repurcussions

DamenS said:
Do you think that he is SOLEY responsible for it, or might it be possible that people who admire him have copied his methodology and attitude - he's famous enough that there would be a few ... certainly not enough to change the world, but do you think a gamut of aspiring street photographers "emulating" Gilden is a good thing, or that it enhances street photography in the mind of the public ?
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Well I still believe 99.5% of the public even in New York could care less. Street is something nobody ever thinks about besides a subset of people interested in photography, and I find it hard to believe the tactics of Gilden and his apparent army of disciples is going to cause enough consternation in people more interested in watching TV or keeping a job that they will rise up and attack anyone with a camera.

I of course could be entirely wrong, and may get shoved down a sewer this afternoon by that old woman on the corner who waves at me when I walk by with a camera...
 
I dunno--I think it's a matter of respecting people and their space--which Mr. Gilden does not. What he's doing constitutes a violation and an intrusion--like somebody flipping the bird right in your face-he's effectively dissing his subjects.

That's where I think those of you who say that "only the photo matters" are wrong. That sounds a little bit like the old Communist thing about "the end justifies the means." Put yourself in his subject's shoes--how would YOU feel if some a--hole shoved a camera right in your face and blasted you with a flash?

No, I think it's better to stand back, be quiet, and show people some respect--even if that means you don't get that "great shot"...
 
Originally Posted by Paul Luscher
how would YOU feel if some a--hole shoved a camera right in your face and blasted you with a flash?

Like a movie star? :D
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Yes, but if Bruce Gilden took your picture ,you wouldn't look like a movie star, you would look like a distorted freak.
 
Originally Posted by 35mmdelux
There is a whole line up of "movie stars" that look like freaks on a good day, seriously.

Yeah, but at least they get paid.
 
I think it's a combination of things. All of us have met people where we say to ourselves "how do they get away with that? Anyone else would get their head handed to them...". And yet some how they pull it off.

I think it helps that Bruce is older now, but given his build and appearance I don't think his presence was ever perceived as a threat. Maybe an annoyance, but not a threat.

He does a lot of this in New York and New Yorkers are a special breed. Getting blasted by Bruce is not the craziest thing you will see or experience on a given day. Many New Yorkers also take a certain amount of pride in the general craziness of the city and their ability to take things in stride, that freak out of towners out.

Also Bruce has been doing this for a looong time and developed a certain persona to deal with what he does. All of these guys have an 'act'. Take a look at Winogrand shooting on the streets of New York. How successful you are at doing what he does is often dependent on your 'act'.
 
Harry Lime said:
He does a lot of this in New York and New Yorkers are a special breed. Getting blasted by Bruce is not the craziest thing you will see or experience on a given day.
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I live in Manhattan and if he did this to me, it would be the craziest thing that I would've seen in awhile... probably since a few RFF-ers and myself witnessed a sick old man trying to molest women and children on the 6 train.
 
He "gets away with it" because,
1. He isn't hurting anyone.
2. His subjects are too busy with their own lives to give a rip.

Gary
 
jsrockit said:
I just wonder what people think of him being a magnum photographer... I mean people say his work sucks and is overrated, yet he still is a member? I wish I sucked that bad.
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Go back and read. Several people have already mentioned that his regular documentary and photojournalism work is great. He's gotten famous from these crappy flash in the face photos, which are nothing like his good work. As I said earlier, it is a sad commentary on our society that he had to stoop to creating such garbage to become famous, because no one gives a damn about socially beneficial documentary work anymore.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
Go back and read. Several people have already mentioned that his regular documentary and photojournalism work is great. He's gotten famous from these crappy flash in the face photos, which are nothing like his good work. As I said earlier, it is a sad commentary on our society that he had to stoop to creating such garbage to become famous, because no one gives a damn about socially beneficial documentary work anymore.
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Why so judgmental? There are alot of things to dis but a dude taking pictures simply isn't one of them in my book. Many photogs are looked upon as nerds--the guys that didn't date the pretty chicks in high school (you know who you are). That image gives me a bad name. I don't dis them.

socially beneficial documentary work? back in the day in Berkeley perhaps but that was decades ago. Who is the decider? Salgado, Workers?

Art comes in infinitesimal ways, even tho one may/may not like it. Regards - P.
 
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