Is your photograph great? In between? Or is it a total crap? Bruce Gilden brutally critiques several photographs and hands down some really great photography advice in Vice’s newest video series.
Bruce Gilden’s street photography might not be everyone’s cup of tea. His works have certain rawness in them and are quite shocking to some degree. To be honest, there are times when his photographs made me uncomfortable. Whether you like Bruce Gilden or not, it’s important to note that the man has tons of awards — not to mention he is also a part of Magnum and was recently a part of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. Mostly done in black and white, his photos are raw, direct, and extremely unapologetic. And just like his photographs, his no-nonsense personality is just as unapologetic.
Vice has recently launched a new video series called Take it or Leave it with Bruce Gilden. On the pilot episode of the series, he was asked to critique a handful of art photographs. Asking Gilden to critique is a very interesting proposition given that Gilden mainly practices street photography.
Gilden was brutally honest throughout the whole eleven minutes of the critique—a prospect which is both a scary and enlightening—most especially for the photographers at the receiving end. Despite a few cuss words and comments that would cut through the heart of any new photographer, the pilot ends on a good note.
As brutal as Gilden’s advice and scalding commentary may be, an aspiring photographer should understand that if one is truly serious in honing their craft and skill, that person should be prepared to have it dismantled — whether that man is an award winning photographer or a random person on the internet.
What do you guys think? Do you agree with what Bruce Gilden said about the photos? What would you do if it was your work he’s decimated? We would love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to check us out on Facebook.
Source: Vice