Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/01/15

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] A Bruce Gilden moment
From: chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com (Chris Crawford)
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:49:57 -0500

He's a photojournalist with Magnum who also does fine art photography. His
artistic work is all done to a formula: Wideangle lens on a Leica with a
strong flash, prefocused. Quickly get up in some unsuspecting pedestrian's
face on the streets of New York and snap a photo. The flash freezes the
shocked look on the victim's face.

Because anyone in the USA who criticises anyone who calls himself an
artist, ever, is 'obviously' a phillistine conservative swine who hates
all form of creativity, anyone online who dares point out what you just
did (that Gilden is a dickhead) gets shouted down by the sheep with
cameras (few of whom would emulate Gilden's 'style' because deep down,
they know its unethical).

Gilden is a very talented documentary photographer, but he became famous
for his flash in the face stuff. I think its a sad commentary on our
society that he had to do that to become well known.



-- 
Chris Crawford
Fine Art Photography
Fort Wayne, Indiana
260-437-8990

http://www.chriscrawfordphoto.com  My portfolio

http://blog.chriscrawfordphoto.com  My latest work!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Crawford/48229272798
Become a fan on Facebook



On 1/15/12 4:30 PM, "Nathan Wajsman" <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote:

>I have no idea who Bruce Gilden is, but the guy you describe sounds like
>an asshole. I would not dream of firing a flash at anybody at 1-ft.
>distance.
>
>Cheers,
>Nathan
>
>Nathan Wajsman
>Alicante, Spain
>http://www.frozenlight.eu
>http://www.greatpix.eu
>http://www.nathanfoto.com
>PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/
>
>
>YNWA
>
>
>
>On Jan 14, 2012, at 3:40 AM, Richard Man wrote:
>
>> I'm sure everyone knows about Bruce and his getting up close and flash
>> people in the face technique. Supposedly most people don't even notice,
>>but
>> it probably helps that Bruce is 6 foot tall or thereabout...
>> 
>> I was shooting in SF Chinatown today and at one point, I was changing
>>film
>> and I noticed that an older woman was talking on the cell phone. I was
>>just
>> thinking that she has an interesting face and wouldn't it be nice if...
>> "POP" a tallish Asian guy just walked up to within a foot of her,
>>raised a
>> flash with his left hand, took a photo and then walked off.
>> 
>> A total Bruce Gilden moment and yes, indeed the old woman did not
>>notice.
>> 
>> Still not something I would do though.
>> 
>> -- 
>> // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Leica Users Group.
>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information




Replies: Reply from photo.forrest at earthlink.net (Phil Forrest) ([Leica] A Bruce Gilden moment)
Reply from sonc.hegr at gmail.com (Sonny Carter) ([Leica] A Bruce Gilden moment)
Reply from images at comporium.net (Tina Manley) ([Leica] A Bruce Gilden moment)
In reply to: Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] A Bruce Gilden moment)