BECOMING BRUCE GILDEN

Brooklyn-born street photographer Bruce Gilden is known for his in-your-face style of shooting. Somewhere between paparazzi and provocateur, Gilden puts his camera and his flash right in front of everyday New Yorkers, then fires away. One summer in L.A. I decided to give his technique a try. Arming myself with a 35mm SLR, a few rolls of black and white negative, and a big flash unit, I hit Hollywood Boulevard ready to pap.

Street Photography is a tradition that demands you get involved with your subject. The closer you get, the more you agitate the scene. When you add a flash into the game, you create a situation where you’re thrust into the immediate awareness of the person you’ve photographed. Committing to this took discipline, and guts.

But, what surprised me the most about the approach was how little little animosity it brought about. Going into it I expected to be cursed, yelled at, or even attacked. But none of that happened. People laughed, others posed, a few even thanked me.

I think one of the main reasons for this is because Hollywood Boulevard is already a crazy place. Costumed street performers, religious fanatics, and people demonstrating for all sorts of reasons fill these blocks on any given day. What’s all that threatening about a guy taking photos of you with a flash?

Ultimately, working the way Gilden does was a great learning experience. It made me a more well-rounded photographer. And, it helped me understand the everyday people of my city in a new way. It’s not a style I turn to often in my work, but knowing I can do it gives me real confidence as an artist.