WNYC Street Shots: Bruce Gilden

WNYC

15 May 200804:04

Summary

TLDRBruce Gilden, a Brooklyn-born photographer since 1981, shares his unique street photography approach. He emphasizes close-up shots to immerse viewers in the action, often using flash to capture the city's energy and anxiety. Gilden is drawn to distinctive characters, not the average passerby, aiming to evoke the feeling of being present on the bustling streets. He has witnessed Manhattan's transformation over the years, noting a loss of individuality and character, which contrasts with his earlier experiences. Despite the dangers and challenges of street photography, Gilden remains passionate about capturing the essence of the city and its people.

Takeaways

📸 Bruce Gilden is a street photographer born in 1946 in Brooklyn, known for his direct and confrontational style.
🗣️ He has a distinctive accent, which he finds infamous, acquired from growing up in Brooklyn.
👀 Gilden's early fascination with the bustling street life in Brooklyn ignited his passion for photography.
🚶‍♂️ He prefers walking on the west side of the street and maintains a fast pace, even at the age of 61.
📷 He often uses flash photography to capture the energy, stress, and anxiety of city life.
👥 Gilden's work makes viewers feel like participants, as he photographs people up close, capturing their unguarded moments.
🤔 He is drawn to photographing individuals who are 'characters', those who stand out and are not average in appearance.
📚 Gilden believes that a successful street photograph should make the viewer feel like they can 'smell the street', immersing them in the scene.
🌆 He has been documenting Manhattan since 1981 and observes that the city has become more homogenized over time.
😅 Friends note that when they are with Gilden, they notice more 'characters' on the street, which they don't see as much on their own.
💥 Gilden compares the intensity of street photography to a war zone, suggesting it's more dangerous and competitive than other forms of photography.

Q & A

Who is Bruce Gilden and what is his profession?
-Bruce Gilden is a photographer born in 1946 in Brooklyn. He is known for his close-up street photography.
What is distinctive about Bruce Gilden's accent?
-Bruce Gilden has a Brooklyn accent, which he describes as either famous or infamous, and he admits he can't stand it.
What inspired Bruce Gilden to become a photographer?
-Bruce Gilden was inspired by the vigorous activity he observed from his second-story window as a child in Brooklyn.
Why does Bruce Gilden typically walk on the west side of the street?
-He doesn't know why, but he feels more comfortable walking on the west side of the street.
How does Bruce Gilden's age affect his photography?
-As he has aged, Bruce Gilden's pace has slowed down, which has likely influenced his approach to capturing street photography.
Why does Bruce Gilden use flash in his photography?
-He uses flash to help visualize his feelings about the city, including its energy, stress, and anxiety.
What does Bruce Gilden aim to achieve with his street photographs?
-He wants viewers to feel like participants and to be in the middle of the action, as if they can smell the street.
How does Bruce Gilden describe the people he photographs?
-He looks for characters that make an impression on him, people who are not average looking and who are often lost in thought.
What is Bruce Gilden's opinion on ethics in photography?
-He claims to have no ethics and dismisses the idea of ethics in photography, suggesting that it's not as important as the work itself.
How does Bruce Gilden perceive the danger in his work?
-He views his street photography as more dangerous than working in supposedly dangerous places like Haiti, as he feels more connected to the people and the reactions he gets on the street.
What changes has Bruce Gilden observed in Manhattan since he started photographing there?
-He has noticed that Manhattan has become more similar and uniform, with people dressing and looking the same, and places like 42nd Street have changed from being crazy to being more like Disney World.
How does Bruce Gilden's friend describe the difference in characters seen when with Bruce?
-His friend notices that when they are together, they see many more characters, suggesting that Bruce has a unique ability to spot and capture interesting individuals.

Outlines

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📸 Bruce Gilden's Street Photography Philosophy

Bruce Gilden, a photographer born in 1946 in Brooklyn, shares his approach to street photography. He emphasizes the importance of having the right of way and walking on the west side of the street, which he feels more comfortable with. Despite slowing down with age, he maintains a fast pace. Gilden's work is characterized by close-up shots that make viewers feel like participants in the scene. He frequently uses flash to capture the city's energy, stress, and anxiety. His subjects are often lost in thought, which he finds intriguing. Gilden seeks out characters that make an impression on him, rather than average-looking people. He believes that a successful street photograph should evoke the smell of the street, making viewers feel truly present. He also discusses the changes in Manhattan since he started photographing there in 1981, noting the homogenization of people's appearances and the loss of the city's unique character.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Right of Way

The right of way refers to the legal priority a person or vehicle has over others in traffic situations. In the script, the photographer mentions not letting others get ahead of him because he has the right of way, which is a metaphor for his assertive approach to capturing street photography.

💡Brooklyn

Brooklyn is a borough of New York City, known for its rich cultural history and vibrant street life. The photographer was born in Brooklyn in 1946, and it's where he developed his distinctive accent and early fascination with the dynamic street activity that later influenced his photography.

💡Street Photography

Street photography is a genre that features spontaneous photographs of people and scenes in public places. The photographer describes his work as capturing the energy, stress, and anxiety of city life, aiming to make viewers feel like participants in the scene. His use of flash and close proximity to subjects exemplifies the essence of street photography.

💡Flash

In photography, flash is a device used to supplement light in low-light conditions or to create specific effects. The photographer uses flash to help visualize his feelings about the city, suggesting that it adds to the energy and intensity of his street photographs.

💡Character

In the context of the script, 'character' refers to individuals with distinctive or unusual features that make them stand out. The photographer seeks out characters for his street photography, as they make a strong impression and add depth to his work. He considers these individuals as 'friends' in his art, even if he doesn't know them personally.

💡Ethics

Ethics in photography often relate to the moral principles guiding a photographer's behavior, such as respecting privacy and obtaining consent. The photographer dismisses the idea of having 'ethics' in his work, suggesting a more candid and unfiltered approach to capturing street scenes.

💡Journalists

Journalists are professionals who research, write, and report news stories. The photographer contrasts journalists, who he claims have 'huge egos' and seek out dangerous situations, with his own approach to street photography, which he views as more perilous due to the close proximity to subjects and the personal nature of the work.

💡Manhattan

Manhattan is another borough of New York City and a central hub for culture and commerce. The photographer has been photographing in Manhattan since 1981, and he comments on how it has changed over time, becoming more homogenized and less vibrant, which reflects his observations on the evolving nature of urban environments.

💡Disney World

Disney World is a theme park known for its controlled and sanitized environment. The photographer compares a once 'crazy' place in Manhattan to Disney World, indicating a loss of authenticity and individuality in the city's character, which is a significant departure from the raw and dynamic scenes he prefers to capture.

💡Urbanization

Urbanization refers to the growth of cities and the movement of people to urban areas. The photographer observes that everyone is 'wearing the same clothes' and 'looking the same,' suggesting a critique of urbanization's impact on individuality and cultural diversity.

💡Participant

In the context of the script, a participant is someone who is actively involved in an event or situation. The photographer aims to make viewers feel like participants in his photographs, suggesting an immersive and engaging experience that places the audience in the heart of the action.

Highlights

Bruce Gilden, a photographer born in 1946 in Brooklyn, discusses his early fascination with street activity.

He mentions his preference for walking on the west side of the street and his fast pace, which is slowing down due to his age.

Gilden's photography aims to make viewers feel like participants, capturing the energy and stress of the city.

He frequently uses flash to visualize his feelings about the city's energy, stress, and anxiety.

Gilden believes his street photography should evoke the smell of the street, making viewers feel truly present.

He looks for characters that make an impression on him, rather than average-looking people.

Gilden admits to having no ethics in his photography, contrasting with journalists who he feels have huge egos.

He compares photographing in Manhattan to being in a war zone, due to the intensity and potential danger.

Gilden has been photographing in Manhattan since 1981 and notes the significant changes in the city's character.

He observes that Manhattan has become more homogenized, with people wearing similar clothes and looking the same.

Gilden reflects on how his friend notices more characters when they are together, suggesting Gilden's unique perspective.

He emphasizes that it's not about what he cares about, but rather what he captures that matters in his photography.

Gilden's work is characterized by his close proximity to subjects, often photographing them without their awareness.

He discusses the importance of capturing people who are lost in thought, which he believes is a common state in the city.

Gilden's photography is a reflection of his own experiences and observations, rather than a staged or artificial representation.

He shares anecdotes about photographing in Haiti during tough times, highlighting the risks and rewards of his work.

Gilden concludes by emphasizing the importance of authenticity in street photography and his commitment to capturing real moments.