Would you punch Bruce Gilden in his face? :)

[rudolf]

Inspired by (there was a url link here which no longer exists), I'd like to ask you, as a photographer to photographer:
Would you punch Bruce Gilden in his face, when he'd get close to you and fire his flash into your eyes?

Just in case you don't know who Bruce Gilden is, enter his name into youtube.com search.

Of course I don't have anything personal against Gilden - never met him; the poll is just for hypothetical situation, you can use any other photographer name instead (just imagine he's behaving same as Gilden).

 

[MDR]

Even though I wouldn't like beeing flashed in the face I wouldn't punch him, verbaly abuse him sure but definetely no physical violence.
Dominik

 

[NB23]

Of course we all like to think that we'd beat him to death and then throw his body on top of the Statue of Liberty and that we'd get applauded by the police and all... But in real life we'd just let him shoot away and we'd probably be left in awe by his great balls of fire.

 

[alex66]

No I would ask for a copy of the picture though.

 

[bvy]

There's a video where a female subject (victim?) starts pushing and smacking at him in response to being photographed. I can't believe he's never had a true physical confrontation (he claims he hasn't).

Would I punch him? Heck no. I'd be flattered.

 

[John Lawrence]

I wouldn't punch him, but would engage him in a debate on whether the best Nikon glass was better than the best Leica glass. That should be punishment enough.....


John

 

[Shawn Rahman]

The more and more I see and think about Bruce Gilden, his way of working, and his attitude, the more I say POWER TO HIM.

You GO Bruce!

 

[Vilk]

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

 

[nhemann]

In my continuing education of the photo world, I was not aware of this guy previously and after two minutes of watching his YouTube stuff my impression of him was simple and immediate.

He is an arrogant douchebag.

Interesting photos at times, (and I am a lover of the happy accident) but his method strikes me as similar to monkeys pounding out Hamlet, hit the keys (or shutter) enough times and you will end up with cool things.

 

[removed account4]

he's just one more guy on the street ... who cares .







i'm usually behind a white curtain wearing a giant eyeball
when i am in public anyways ...

 

[Christopher Colley]

id be too busy making a photograph with him in it to care that he is making a photo with me in it..


people talk all about privacy and wanting to punch photographers and remove their film stuff online.. in print... but in reality most people are like how people speak of animals/bugs. .. "they are more afraid of you than you of them.."

 

[bvy]

Interesting photos at times, (and I am a lover of the happy accident) but his method strikes me as similar to monkeys pounding out Hamlet, hit the keys (or shutter) enough times and you will end up with cool things.

I've wondered about this too, but from a slightly different point of view. If more photographers had the balls to do what Gilden does -- i.e., there was a larger body of work of the "flash in your face" variety -- would Gilden's work still be noteworthy? In other words, does Gilden's work stand on its shock value alone?

dirtyharry (Flickr) utilizes this approach far more tactfully, and, to my eyes, far more artfully:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirtyharrry/

 

[rudolf]

I've wondered about this too, but from a slightly different point of view. If more photographers had the balls to do what Gilden does -- i.e., there was a larger body of work of the "flash in your face" variety -- would Gilden's work still be noteworthy? In other words, does Gilden's work stand on its shock value alone?

dirtyharry (Flickr) utilizes this approach far more tactfully, and, to my eyes, far more artfully:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirtyharrry/

Well, it's possible that Gilden wouldn't be so appreciated if every single photographer has enough courage (or so little respect) to behave similarly.
But photographers usually have both respect and/or fear preventing Gilden's star to dim.

 

[rudolf]

Anyway, I think many of you treated this poll way too serious. Didn't you guys notice emoticon both in thread title and poll description?

 

[semeuse]

there is no connection between Gilden and his subjects - they are simply snapshots with an expensive camera - it might be fun to find him "working" and quick pull out a mirror

 

[CGW]

I keep hoping he'll shoot my 350 lb Maori lawyer someday.

 

[semeuse]

I keep hoping he'll shoot my 350 lb Maori lawyer someday.

Instantly thought of Dr. Gonzo - but he was supposedly Samoan, I think

 

[tomalophicon]

I wouldn't punch him, have you seen the size of him?

 

[cmo]

No I would ask for a copy of the picture though.

I would ask for a signed copy, limited edition

That man is really tough.

 

[naeroscatu]

In my continuing education of the photo world, I was not aware of this guy previously and after two minutes of watching his YouTube stuff my impression of him was simple and immediate.

He is an arrogant douchebag.

Interesting photos at times, (and I am a lover of the happy accident) but his method strikes me as similar to monkeys pounding out Hamlet, hit the keys (or shutter) enough times and you will end up with cool things.

He is definitelyy arrogant and most people hate his guts. I'm not sure about the monkey business you are talking about. I doubt they would get him at Magnum if his work would be of little value or just "accidents". The problem is that you saw the youtube clip before seeing his work...

Oh, about the initial question: if you ask a photographer most answers will be "no punch"; if you ask the people on the street the answers will be probably split 50/ 50. In actual fact no one will punch this guy and he knows it.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

No, I wouldn't punch him. I'm not inclined to violence anyway but to me the idea of punching someone out because they were rude or inappropriate towards me would actually be a worse assault than the one they committed. Having said that, my opinion of him as a person and as a photographer is pretty low based on what I've seen so why should I care?
Anyway, it's America. Someone is bound to shoot him before long.

 

[CGW]

It's a perverse schtick, much like radio shock jocks, with the same one note approach. He's like a vulgar neurotraumatized Weegee. Just proves that Magnum has a sense of humor.

 

[DarkMagic]

Bruce is cool. See in my file attachment what i did last time i met him. In the middle frame it almost looks like i have knocked him out, but he is only giving his crazy poses for my portraits of him

 

[hoffy]

Yeah, I'd punch him *







*Note: - not serious, didn't you see the emoticons in my reply

 

[tomalophicon]

Bruce is cool. See in my file attachment what i did last time i met him. In the middle frame it almost looks like i have knocked him out, but he is only giving his crazy poses for my portraits of him

That's awesome.