Street Photography

[BryanC]

Bruce Gilden and his style of Street Photography...thoughts?...opinions?

[candleman]

Wow.. i wonder how many times he’s been yelled at. He doesn’t seem tlike the kinda guy to back down too easily.

I really liked a few of the images in there. some were very inspiring actually. Particularly 1:19 Many others were.. “meh” for me.

As for his approach, i really wouldn’t do it myself. I'm not one for provoking a potential confrontation... but it seems to work for him i guess.

[spencer28n]

His personality seems to go hand in hand with his style/vision. It's entertaining and fresh if nothing else.

[ilookalot]

i like the candidness of the pics but not his method. from this short clip he only picked the old and the female i guess thats one way not to get smacked in the face

[Elmo]

Having been introduced to Street back in the 50's by Robert Franks I do not like this guys style. He interrupts people and their lives that is not "Documenting the Human Condition." His style is what causes people to object and/or get defensive to street photographers. I had much rather follow the example as depicted in Chris Weeks Documentary (almost a Leica Add) in three parts starting here:

Street Photography: Documenting the Human Condition - Part One of Three on Vimeo

[BryanC]

I would fall on the side of not liking the tactics he uses...at least the way it's demonstrated in this particular video. I have to be honest and say, due the environment I grew up in, if I was walking in the city and out of nowhere someone lunged into me like that...natural reaction or reflex might produce an image of blurred knuckles or the bottom of my shoe.... I saw a comment somewhere about his style that was to the effect of; "...he gets images that no one else would". I guess that's true in a way, but I don't think that's enough for me. I don't like the invasiveness of it. I thought I would post it here because, at the very least, I thought it was interesting.

[BryanC]

Originally Posted by candleman

I really liked a few of the images in there. some were very inspiring actually. Particularly 1:19 Many others were.. “meh” for me.

The guy at 2:09...I thought that one was really interesting and not an "in your face" shot.

[BryanC]

Originally Posted by Elmo

Having been introduced to Street back in the 50's by Robert Franks I do not like this guys style. He interrupts people and their lives that is not "Documenting the Human Condition." His style is what causes people to object and/or get defensive to street photographers. I had much rather follow the example as depicted in Chris Weeks Documentary (almost a Leica Add) in three parts starting here:

Street Photography: Documenting the Human Condition - Part One of Three on Vimeo

Thanks for posting that link. I have seen this before and really liked it. It's worth seeing for those who haven't. A great offset to the style in the video I posted.

[Browncoat]

The guy has stones, you gotta give him that. Granted, the people on the streets of NYC are used to seeing a variety of weirdos that most of us will never fully comprehend.

Personally, I love it. It's very raw, unpolished, and real. It's like WWII photography...and is probably very thrilling.

I don't think I could ever do it. Blasting people in the face with flash at close range? Wow.

[Elmo]

Originally Posted by Browncoat

It's very raw, unpolished, and real. It's like WWII photography...and is probably very thrilling.

.

Not like WWII at all. WWII stuff is real,
This guy is a shock jock. his images serve only himself in showing and bragging to others "look how I shocked that b------".

Using flash is a crutch. He does not have to deal with exposure once you get the range it is the same every time. Buy the same token he does not need to know about focus. Use wide angle lens stopped down (Flash furnishes plenty of light) set focus to 5 feet and the world is in focus.

In contrast look at the image at 1:55 in the first segment of the link I posted. It tells a great story. Look at the man. What is he carrying? What does that tell you about the man? Hint: also look at his glasses. Then what is the man doing? This image tells a story, yet leaves the mind in gear with many questions. This is Street Photography.

You want to do something challenging give it a try. Avoid the hormone (as in the strangers on the street thread) and homeless driven images. If you do it right most folks will never know and you will learn something about your equipment.

Yes I am on a soap box. But I shoot 'Street".