I like the guy sitting awkwardly staring at the ground as if in prayer or deep contemplation. Your rules for street photography are great. Over time I’ve come to follow those same rules. And I cannot resist saying that good street photography doesn’t require getting as close as Gilden does. It is not true as Robert Capa said that “[i[f your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” How close you get depends on what you are trying to do. And simply getting closer does not guarantee better results.
Bruce Gilden strikes me as the perfect guy to help someone get over photographic timidity.
I used to teach portraiture and every year in the first meeting I’d ask what students hoped to learn. By far the #1 answer was “how do I photograph strangers.” It’s daunting until you get the hang of it. And even then can remain so.
Those are great. Love the weird flattening effect that happens with that long depth of field, which seems to squeeze everything into the same two-dimensional plane.
Great insights, and information, thanks. Love those colour-saturated beach snaps too (you found some great-looking people, it has to be said). I guess one of the great challenges with street photography is that it’s invariably, to a greater or lesser extent, voyeuristic. Is that a bad or shameful thing? I’m not sure, but it’s a bit uncomfortable… which is also its attraction, because who said photographs should be comfortable?
I think if he sugar coated I wouldn't be writing this newsletter. I thought that I was fooling people with my photos of backs, creating intention where there wasn't one. He called me out on it.
I like the guy sitting awkwardly staring at the ground as if in prayer or deep contemplation. Your rules for street photography are great. Over time I’ve come to follow those same rules. And I cannot resist saying that good street photography doesn’t require getting as close as Gilden does. It is not true as Robert Capa said that “[i[f your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” How close you get depends on what you are trying to do. And simply getting closer does not guarantee better results.
Bruce Gilden strikes me as the perfect guy to help someone get over photographic timidity.
I used to teach portraiture and every year in the first meeting I’d ask what students hoped to learn. By far the #1 answer was “how do I photograph strangers.” It’s daunting until you get the hang of it. And even then can remain so.
Unless you’re Bruce Gilden!
Those are great. Love the weird flattening effect that happens with that long depth of field, which seems to squeeze everything into the same two-dimensional plane.
That was probably the first shoot I started doing that! Thank you.
Great insights, and information, thanks. Love those colour-saturated beach snaps too (you found some great-looking people, it has to be said). I guess one of the great challenges with street photography is that it’s invariably, to a greater or lesser extent, voyeuristic. Is that a bad or shameful thing? I’m not sure, but it’s a bit uncomfortable… which is also its attraction, because who said photographs should be comfortable?
In curious what you think now of Golden's pedagogical approach. Was that the dictate/advice you needed to hear?
I think if he sugar coated I wouldn't be writing this newsletter. I thought that I was fooling people with my photos of backs, creating intention where there wasn't one. He called me out on it.
No doubt you are a superb photographer for which I send you my deepest love hugs and embraces from the core of my heart!! Kudos!!
Curious to hear more lessons learned from Bruce Gilden and how many actually failed his class.
I would say you aced the assignment, hope Bruce gave you an A!
It’s not easy to be as direct as he was. And it takes courage to listen. I admire you both.