Bruce Gilden spent four days photographing people at New York's Brighton Beach -- a colorful neighborhood not too far from his own home.
Bruce Gilden spent four days photographing people at New York's Brighton Beach -- a colorful neighborhood not too far from his own home.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
Gilden wandered the streets with a small Leica camera, and he snapped photos when he spotted a character.
Gilden wandered the streets with a small Leica camera, and he snapped photos when he spotted a character.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
For decades, Gilden shot in black and white. For the last two years, he says, he sees in color.
For decades, Gilden shot in black and white. For the last two years, he says, he sees in color.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
Brighton Beach has it all -- wild prints on shirts and dresses, fluorescent bathing suits that don't exactly fit, garish makeup that's been lovingly applied the same way for 50 years.
Brighton Beach has it all -- wild prints on shirts and dresses, fluorescent bathing suits that don't exactly fit, garish makeup that's been lovingly applied the same way for 50 years.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
A woman and her dog on the beach.
A woman and her dog on the beach.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
Last October, Gilden brought a translator along because so few people in the neighborhood speak English -- or at least, he says, they pretend they don't.
Last October, Gilden brought a translator along because so few people in the neighborhood speak English -- or at least, he says, they pretend they don't.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
"I have a lot of energy in my pictures," Gilden said. "With those people, there's a lot of energy. They're shopping, shopping, shopping. They go with their carts, and their red lipstick and their bright clothes."
"I have a lot of energy in my pictures," Gilden said. "With those people, there's a lot of energy. They're shopping, shopping, shopping. They go with their carts, and their red lipstick and their bright clothes."
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
Most people were very nice, Gilden said. Some wanted to take his head off.
Most people were very nice, Gilden said. Some wanted to take his head off.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
Street photography is like playing sports, Gilden said. "You don't have time to think. You act and react."
Street photography is like playing sports, Gilden said. "You don't have time to think. You act and react."
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
"I shoot what's interesting," Gilden said. "All I'm about is visual."
"I shoot what's interesting," Gilden said. "All I'm about is visual."
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos
After years of shooting gangsters, revelers and whoever happens to be out and about, it all unfolds so quickly that almost nobody makes a fuss, Gilden says.
After years of shooting gangsters, revelers and whoever happens to be out and about, it all unfolds so quickly that almost nobody makes a fuss, Gilden says.
Bruce Gilden/Magnum Photos