I met Bruce Gilden last weekend @ Coney Island

[MISH]

a friend of mine once made the observation that it looked to him like Bruce was sticking his flash in the faces of the "old and infirm" not necessarily the people that could do anything about it. BTW if you get a chance to see Bruce's book Coney Island (photographs from 1969 to 1986) you can see he is a great street photographer without the flash in the face that he is perhaps more famous or infamous for.
(and you can tell by my avatar that coney island is a favorite place for me)

 

[helen.HH]

You are dead on about that. I live in the Dallas area and people down here don't walk around much. Cars are just a modern day version of their horses. However, it is slowly changing as our mass transportation system improves. But the key word is s-l-o-w-l-y.....

oh my Goodness...I would probably go nuts
I would not last very long in Dallas Rick..
my LIFE REVOLVES around walking , biking & the subway system
most things within easy reach

i guess I am a Big City gal at heart

 

[tjh]

I'm glad this thread got started. It got me to look at some of the YouTube videos of Gilden. Great stuff.

Tom

 

[skibeerr]

So is there a private nice Bruce and a public a*hole Bruce?

I read Bellamy's report about a workshop he did, interesting read.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

oh my Goodness...I would probably go nuts
I would not last very long in Dallas Rick..
my LIFE REVOLVES around walking , biking & the subway system
most things within easy reach

i guess I am a Big City gal at heart

Helen, you would be like a fish out of water down here in Dallas.🙂

 

[kshapero]

I was working a corner in Manhattan about 6 years ago, I saw him doing his thing. I was amazed that I knew it was him (cause I had never met him before), but his style is just so Bruce (one of a kind). It was dusk and he was working the flash thing pretty aggressively. I watched him out of the corner of my eye for awhile then walked away. That's all.

 

[Michael Markey]

I`ve seen a video of him shooting in Derby in the UK.
He had to explain what he was doing a few times.
Location does seem to be important.

 

[whited3]

So is there a private nice Bruce and a public a*hole Bruce?

I read Bellamy's report about a workshop he did, interesting read.

Hmm, from what I can tell I don't think that's his intent. I just think when we see him flashing people in the face he comes off as an asshole. But, in the very next moment he could converse with the same person like a normal (friendly) human if the situation presented itself.

I can't personally confirm this, but that's the impression I get.

 

[reala_fan]

His Photos are "alright". I have seen him before...

All I can say is...."Hey Bruce.....NEVER use a flash!"



.

 

[jsrockit]

And I agree, New York may be one of the few places where he can shoot like this.

Yet, he's done it all over the world.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

Oh the pressure... I have a feeling the photo is crap. I hope I finish this roll soon so I can find out.

Bruce might be "bokelicious"

Make it hypercontrasty and call it Bruce Gilden in Moriyama style 😉

 

[L Collins]

I see him often, he walks around midtown alot... Talked with him a few times, I agree, he is a nice guy, easy to talk to..
I followed him once, took a few shots of him "working", he turned at me and asked If I had enough already with a smirk on his face..

Who died and made him Pope? For a guy who shoots in the manner he does, that statement takes a lot of hubris. I would have told him to kiss my ass.

 

[shadowfox]

I learned long time ago not to make any judgement about someone's personality based on whatever I read, watch, or listen to.

Though I have a feeling that he must have a magnetic personality to be able to pull off the style of shooting that he does, for such a long period of time. In other words, only a person that is comfortable around people would be able to do that.

To the OP, i'm waiting for the picture also. No pressure 🙂

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Yet, he's done it all over the world.

You know, the more I think about it, I think you're right.

 

[taemo]

Who died and made him Pope? For a guy who shoots in the manner he does, that statement takes a lot of hubris. I would have told him to kiss my ass.

there's a difference between street shooting someone and following someone like a paparazzi

 

[Bob Michaels]

Likewise, one should not reach conclusions about a photographers style based on Youtube videos. Actually, the street "in your face" work that Bruce Gilden does is a small part of his efforts although that is what gets the attention of the general public. His documentary work is absolutely first class. Check out the Magnum website.

I have a friend who interned with BG for his commercial work. Yes, he pays the rent and puts food on the table doing commercial work as there is no money to be made in either documentary or his style of street shooting. My friend says he is both a super nice guy and a very talented commercial photographer.

I learned long time ago not to make any judgement about someone's personality based on whatever I read, watch, or listen to.

Though I have a feeling that he must have a magnetic personality to be able to pull off the style of shooting that he does, for such a long period of time. In other words, only a person that is comfortable around people would be able to do that.

 

[MIkhail]

I agree. That is why I love watching those videos of him working. It just brings a big smile to my face. He is just being who he is. I had a photographer friend like that once back in my younger days. He was harmless but sometimes acted crazy in public. Got us into a few tight jams here and there, but boy, he sure was fun to be around.😀

I take it, you were not his subject then?
How would you feel on the subject's place?
I noticed, he mostly takes funny pictures of older ladies, etc. That's wise for him.
Not quite the same approach as Boogie, for example, would like to see him doing that to a gang members.
Or Alex Webb, Bruce Davidso, Steve McCurrie. Those guys treated their subjects with respect.

 

[MIkhail]

Likewise, one should not reach conclusions about a photographers style based on Youtube videos. Actually, the street "in your face" work that Bruce Gilden does is a small part of his efforts although that is what gets the attention of the general public. His documentary work is absolutely first class. Check out the Magnum website.

I have a friend who interned with BG for his commercial work. Yes, he pays the rent and puts food on the table doing commercial work as there is no money to be made in either documentary or his style of street shooting. My friend says he is both a super nice guy and a very talented commercial photographer.

I saw his documentary, quite populistic, IMO.

 

[MIkhail]

Yet, he's done it all over the world.

All over the world like China, Hong Kong, Turkey and Russia, or over the world like Midwest USA?
Shooting street in Barcelona, Spain is not the same as shooting in Covington, Kentuckky, I tried both. Barcelona is easier, and more productive.

 

[finguanzo]

Who died and made him Pope? For a guy who shoots in the manner he does, that statement takes a lot of hubris. I would have told him to kiss my ass.

He was jokingly saying it.. We had a short conversation afterwards about what he was shooting.... Everybody seems to think the guys an ahole.. He just shoots like an ahole.. 🙂