I attended a conversation last night at the Leica Store in NYC between Bruce Gilden and Max Blagg, a poet and writer who has worked on projects with Bruce. Gilden just published a new book, 8 Days In Napoli, where he toured the streets of this Italian city photographing people in his iconic style, close up and using flash. The walls of the Leica store were filled with framed images from his book.
I found Gilden to be an excellent story teller and down to earth, expressive guy, describing his brand of street photography. He had a hard scrabble early life, growing up with parents who were anything but good role models. He talked about how he's a self taught photographer, studying the work along the way of many contemporaries like William Klein, Matsumoto, Lisette Model, Diane Arbus, etc. When talking about how he approaches people, his advice was to do what you feel comfortable with. As opposed to what many may think about his past, he seemed to have a respectful and professional approach in his street work now. He's about to turn 79 years old.
I bought a copy of his new book which he signed for me, jokingly inscribing it, "Dear Steve, I Love You, Bruce Gilden."
Yeah, one of those guys who doesn't go running off after the newest body for some feature, or the newest lens because it promises "clinical sharpness" with zero aberrations, no hair of a distortion, no vignetting, etc.
But I dig his hat and the way he genuinly looks interested in the people, like the lady he just met that is buying a book (it seems).
RWNPhoto wrote:
Yeah, one of those guys who doesn't go running off after the newest body for some feature, or the newest lens because it promises "clinical sharpness" with zero aberrations, no hair of a distortion, no vignetting, etc.
But I dig his hat and the way he genuinly looks interested in the people, like the lady he just met that is buying a book (it seems).
Interesting that you mention that about him being genuinely interested in people. As I stood in line waiting for him to sign my copy of his book, I saw how he engaged personally with each person ahead of me in line, asking them questions or answering any questions that they might have. When I got to the front of the line, I asked him how he decided for each assignment whether to shoot in B&W or color. He explained that each photo shoot was different and he analyzed which direction was the best choice. For his newest book, Napoli, he used B&W because he saw a correlation between this assignment and classic Italian B&W movies.
One other thing that he pointed out during his presentation was that he considered himself an expert in approaching and talking to people which is part of the craft of street photography.
I have always enjoyed lectures, conversations as you say, with authors, especially photographers Steve.
With the loss of "bookstores", I have not seen any author's in my area for man, many years. Sad thing that be.
We can learn a lot from people if we care to engage them in constructive conversation. Especially when you are out photographing the "street".
Well done Steve!
Oh..Congrats on your "FT" win!!!! You made that connection there also!!
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote:
I have always enjoyed lectures, conversations as you say, with authors, especially photographers Steve.
With the loss of "bookstores", I have not seen any author's in my area for man, many years. Sad thing that be.
We can learn a lot from people if we care to engage them in constructive conversation. Especially when you are out photographing the "street".
Well done Steve!
Oh..Congrats on your "FT" win!!!! You made that connection there also!!
Dan
Agree Dan, it’s a shame about the decline of bookstores. There was an article in the paper this week about how high school students reading and math scores have been declining. Probably too much time being spent on social media, including IG and Tik Tok.
Steve
eeneryma wrote:
Agree Dan, it’s a shame about the decline of bookstores. There was an article in the paper this week about how high school students reading and math scores have been declining. Probably too much time being spent on social media, including IG and Tik Tok.
Steve
Oh no doubt Steve!
Our Board of Education keeps "dumbing down" the levels of h.s. test score to mask the decline in learning.
I taught hs History in 1973..1 year was all I could take! The kids did NOT want to learn and I was a distraction.
Thanks!
Dan
