Webtip: Bruce Gilden "Head on"

[jsrockit]

Well, I respect Bruce Gilden for one reason... he's got balls. Sure, his method on the safe streets of NYC is one thing, but he has also photographed some pretty rough people that most of us wouldn't (Yakuza mobsters, prostitutes, and members of bike gangs). I wish I had his nerve.

 

[dave lackey]

Well, let's just call him what he is - a pap who photographs normal people. Paps do exactly what he does, they try to aggravate their subjects in order to get something ugly from them. Gilden shoots ''characters'', paps shoot ''celebs''. Is he a pap all the time? I wouldn't say so. His portfolio suggests that his aesthetic sensibilities go a bit further than just being 'in your face'. And there is also a case to be made that there's some artistic merit in taking the paparazzi approach to photographing normal people given our culture's obsession with celebrity.

As for passing moral judgement on him, I think we should put it into perspective. Sure, it's uncomfortable for his subjects and he's rude and everything. But that's not the end of the world. For most of these people having their picture taken by Gilden, while being somewhat uncomfortable, will not mean much.

But I bet that a camera up his rear would be much more meaningful to him.😛

 

[dfoo]

I entirely agree with Nikkor AIS. I really enjoy Bruce's work, and I think you guys are in general being moralists. If I'm taking a picture and some gets annoyed with me, what is wrong with being annoyed back? As I saw in one video... one guy said "Hey, what are you doing?" Bruce: "I'm taking a picture!"

In a way Bruce stands up for all of us street photogs.

 

[Sparrow]

Well, I respect Bruce Gilden for one reason... he's got balls. Sure, his method on the safe streets of NYC is one thing, but he has also photographed some pretty rough people that most of us wouldn't (Yakuza mobsters, prostitutes, and members of bike gangs). I wish I had his nerve.

Yes, but to be fair he should have credited Bailey with the mobsters photo as he did it years before with that Kray twins pic ... I've nicked it too, but then I'm lightweight 😀

 

[Jamie123]

But I bet that a camera up his rear would be much more meaningful to him.😛

I agree. While it's not legal and I usually don't condone violence I'd think that if anyone punched Gilden between the eyes one couldn't say he didn't have it coming.
But then again, I'm sure this has happened and it seems to be a risk he's quite willing to take. As someone said earlier he does have balls. No doubt about that.

 

[Sparrow]

I entirely agree with Nikkor AIS. I really enjoy Bruce's work, and I think you guys are in general being moralists. If I'm taking a picture and some gets annoyed with me, what is wrong with being annoyed back? As I saw in one video... one guy said "Hey, what are you doing?" Bruce: "I'm taking a picture!"

In a way Bruce stands up for all of us street photogs.

I would suggest his method would be more likely damaging the average photographer reputation actually, rather than defend it

 

[jsrockit]

I've shown BG's methods to some of my non-photographer friends and they were appalled. Perhaps a good percentage of the population may feel the same way.

 

[anthony_semone]

just my two cents here (I didn't qualify for the Stimulus Package). I was talking with a good friend of mine, quite a remarkable artist, who, when I described this guy, "asshat" Gilden, said something like: "that piss ant shove a flash in my face or my wife's face, and let me tell ya, he better be able to out run me, 'cause he'd find his camera in pieces, let alone his face 🙂 My friend is not the most pacific of folks 🙂

tony

 

[dave lackey]

Do you really want me to raise the level of animosity on this thread? Arrogance against Juan, now against me. Do you really want it?🙂

 

[Phantomas]

I'm not wanting to raise anything here but I love pointing out mild hypocrisies, pointing to others to remove their rude comments and then carrying on in even ruder manner yourself. If you expect others to be respectful please be respectful yourself.

 

[Jamie123]

If you expect others to be respectful please be respectful yourself.

I hear Gilden lives by that credo.

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

I'm not wanting to raise anything here but I love pointing out mild hypocrisies, pointing to others to remove their rude comments and then carrying on in even ruder manner yourself. If you expect others to be respectful please be respectful yourself.

Well stated.