Bruce Gilden

For more than 50 years, Brooklyn-born Bruce Gilden has honed his signature street photography style around the world. Gilden’s work distills the variety and character of the street.

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© Bruce Gilden / Magnum Photos

Selected Photos

Portrait of a middle aged man with light brown hair.

(1/8)

My pictures are very dramatic and, I'd say, a punch in the stomach. I'm comfortable doing that. Most people don't mind because I'm very good in the street. I know how to pick people that don't object because I have a feel for them.

Portrait of a woman with a short two toned, black and red haircut.

(2/8)

I'm very truthful, and I want people to know I'm there. I'm not sneaking a picture from across the street, you know, like a lot of people do because they're afraid of confrontation or to have a dialogue with the person.

A bearded young man wearing a sports jersey standing in front of a concrete wall.

(3/8)

A guy who looks like a hip-hop guy. A young guy who we found on Fifth Avenue.

Portrait of a blonde middle aged woman wearing tortoise shell angular glasses.

(4/8)

No one can pick my people for me. There's a certain detail I see that separates them from others. It's not that you're a gangster or biker or a type necessarily. It's someone who stands out and has an individuality, a strength.

A middle aged man with a five o’clock shadow wearing a blue blazer.

(5/8)

I used a ringer, someone I know. He's Russian, but he grew up in and lives in New York. I just wanted him; I knew he'd make a good picture because he has a good shaved face.

A woman dressed in all black with white hair smiles in front of a wall.

(6/8)

She was different from other people walking Fifth Avenue. I saw something that made her stand out, maybe it was her eyes or her demeanor. I felt I might be able to draw something out of her.

A waist-up portrait of a man with a large body wearing a black suit with a red tie.

(7/8)

My favorite picture of all. He has a large body, and his head tilts to one side; the light is shining on his head, and it almost looks like he's having a conversation with God. It's just a strong waist-up portrait.

A face portrait of a woman wearing dark red lipstick.

(8/8)

When I do face portraits of women, I like color because a lot of the women have a little lipstick or a little color that adds a little pizzazz to the photograph.

Bruce’s Website

"I think the most important thing is the visual impact of a website. It's not about the words."

Template Design Features

A contemporary and powerful design created in collaboration with Bruce Gilden

  • A modern website page with a black background and two offers for photography courses next to each other.

    Courses

    Create and sell online courses with multimedia lessons, chapters, and progress tracking for students.

  • A modern website page with a black background and a thin, horizontal white line between text.

    Section Dividers

    Custom breaks between website sections that add more nuance to your scrolling experience.

  • A modern website page with a black background and three photographs in a freeform arrangement.

    Fluid Engine

    Our groundbreaking drag-and-drop editor that provides total control of website layout and design.

  • A modern website homepage with a black background and centered image slideshow.

    Gallery Block

    Our go-to format for beautifully presenting collections of images or videos anywhere on a page.

Apply for a Critique

An opportunity for an exclusive 20-minute session with Bruce Gilden for a one-on-one virtual review of your photography portfolio.

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The head and torso of Bruce Gilden, wearing a bucket hat, against a neutral background.

The Magnum Collection

A set of six template designs inspired by six iconic photographers.

  • A basic website template with photographs of horses, a woman, and another woman.

    Arthur

    An airy design created in collaboration with Olivia Arthur, with abundant white space and an organic layout.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN
  • A basic website template with three photographs of books in a single row.

    Aue Sobol

    A versatile design created in collaboration with Jacob Aue Sobol, with bold typography and a prominent display for products.

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  • A contemporary website template with a hero video of floral arrangements.

    Çimen

    A video-forward design created in collaboration with Sabiha Çimen, with a versatile multi-column layout to exhibit varying work.

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  • A modern website template with a black background and centered image of a man in a striped shirt.

    Gilden

    A contemporary and powerful design created in collaboration with Bruce Gilden.

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  • A basic website template with eight landscape photographs in a grid arrangement.

    Keo

    A brutalist design created in collaboration with William Keo, with a roomy grid layout and a multitude of pages to highlight your work.

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  • A bold website template with a large headline and hero image of a woman's head.

    McCurry

    A well-structured design created in collaboration with Steve McCurry, with distinct elements throughout, and generous room for a multitude of projects.

    START WITH THIS DESIGN