A Closer Look at Bruce Gilden: Depth of Field 2023

A Closer Look at Bruce Gilden: Depth of Field 2023

Author: B&H Photo & Video August 17, 2023 Duration: 30:18

Bruce Gilden is a street-photography icon. With summer in full swing and International Street Photography Day (otherwise known as Henry Cartier-Bresson's birthday) looming on the horizon, what better time to feature a lively chat with the master himself, recorded at B&H's 2023 Depth of Field Conference, just before the Magnum photographer's keynote lecture.

Gilden's emotionally fraught depictions of real people up close are an acquired taste, and we address this aspect of his work during our chat, with Allan admitting that Gilden's work has terrified him in the past. We also touch on a somewhat surprising facet of Gilden's career—fashion photography—as he discusses making pictures for high-end clients such as Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabana, and Diesel. From the influence of early 20th-century mugshots on Gilden's aesthetic to the importance of making, and living with, visual choices to keep the photography fresh, our discussion covers a lot of ground. Stay to the end to learn about Gilden's long held photographic wish—photographing murder in a beautiful way.

And for anyone who's ever fantasized about a taking workshop with Gilden, check out the link below to his upcoming street photography workshop in New York!

Above photograph © Bruce Gilden

Guest: Magnum photographer Bruce Gilden

For more information on our guest and the gear he uses, see:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/closer-look-bruce-gilden

Stay Connected:
Bruce Gilden Website: https://www.brucegilden.com
Bruce Gilden Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BruceGilden
Bruce Gilden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bruce_gilden
Bruce Gilden Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/brucegilden
Bruce Gilden's Magnum page: https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/bruce-gilden/
Bruce Gilden's Upcoming New York Workshop: miamistreetphotographyfestival.org/bruce-gilden


There's a conversation happening about photography that goes far beyond the latest camera review, and you can find it on the B&H Photography Podcast. Hosted by the team at B&H Photo & Video, this series sits down with a wide range of insightful and genuinely entertaining guests from across the photographic world. Every other week, these discussions delve into the practical realities of gear and technique, but they also wander into the richer territory of visual history, the surprising science behind an image, and the personal philosophies that drive artistic expression. What you'll hear feels less like a formal interview and more like eavesdropping on a passionate chat between experts, unpacking the ideas that actually matter to anyone making pictures today. Whether you're a seasoned professional curious about a colleague's process or an enthusiastic amateur looking to deepen your understanding, this podcast provides a thoughtful, accessible space to explore the entire ecosystem of photography. The result is a consistently engaging listen that reminds you why you picked up a camera in the first place, while giving you the concrete knowledge to use it better tomorrow. Tune in for a fresh perspective that connects the technical dots with the creative spark.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

B&H Photography Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Lynn Goldsmith's Prince Portrait and its Legacy in Case Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:56
For anyone familiar with the photo industry, the mammoth lawsuit between The Andy Warhol Foundation and renowned music photographer Lynn Goldsmith should be no secret. This complex battle over the rights to her 1981 port…
Picturing World Cultures: Rita Leistner - Canada [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:35
Professional tree planting is back breaking piecework—a combination of high intensity sport and industrial labor that requires both technical finesse and remarkable physical and mental endurance. Using techniques more of…
Still Photography & the WWE, with Brad Smith & Rich Freeda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:55
Cozy up to a ringside seat for a behind-the-scenes tour of the wildest shows in sports entertainment, during our insightful chat about the still photos produced for World Wrestling Entertainment, (otherwise known as WWE)…
Picturing World Cultures: Daniel Rosca - Romania [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:04
There are many different ways to look at culture, and today we take a geographic approach, to distinguish people who live in rural mountain and hilly settings from those of the wider plains and urban areas. Our focus is…
Photography in the Age of AI, with Stephen Shankland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:53
How much can you edit a photo before it stops becoming true? That's the question CNET tech reporter Stephen Shankland recently asked in the opening lines of his story, How Close is that Photo to the Truth: What to Know i…
Picturing World Cultures: Joshua Irwandi - Indonesia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:02
While Joshua Irwandi was born and raised in Indonesia, the early pictures he made during his first visit to the region of Asmat, in the province of West Papua, were less than satisfying to him. Yet his fascination with t…
Picturing World Cultures: Kiana Hayeri: Iran / Afghanistan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
Kiana Hayeri was born in Iran, and this was where she launched her career as a photojournalist and visual storyteller. Yet after traveling to Afghanistan for a 2014 assignment, she decided to relocate, spending the next…