I Dressed as Bruce Gilden for Halloween and Flashed Seattle's Halloween Scene
Halloween gave me the perfect excuse to step way outside my comfort zone as an architectural photographer. Armed with a Nikon Z6III, the Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8 pancake lens, and a vintage DOMKE PhoTOGS Vest, I spent a rainy Seattle night impersonating one of street photography's most controversial figures: Bruce Gilden.
For those unfamiliar, Bruce Gilden has built a legendary—and polarizing—career getting uncomfortably close to strangers with direct flash. His aggressive approach has sparked endless debates about ethics in street photography. I wanted to see what it felt like to shoot this way for a night.
The Gear
My Leica M4P stayed home due to Seattle's forecast. The weather-sealed Z6III paired with the 26mm f/2.8 proved perfect—small enough to look unserious, tough enough to handle the downpour that eventually hit. Flash settings were simple: Nikon Z2 Pro at 1/16 power, shutter between 8-15 seconds, ISO 320, shooting at f/10 with trap focus (1 meter to infinity).
University of Washington: The Warm-Up
We started at the University of Washington campus in the afternoon. The gothic library—yes, the one from Harry Potter—provided stunning architecture for initial test shots. The fall colors and dramatic buildings made for perfect lens testing before the chaos began.
Downtown Seattle: When Bruce Gilden Mode Activated
After some pregaming at our $35 hostel, we hit downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill around 9 PM. Pike Place Market was surprisingly dead, but Capitol Hill was pure Halloween madness.
This is where the direct flash work really began. After a few drinks, I committed fully to the Bruce Gilden approach—getting close, flash at 1/16 power, catching people completely off guard.
The Photos:
The reactions were incredible. Some people looked startled, others didn't react at all (too drunk, probably), and a few genuinely enjoyed it. The direct flash created that stark, documentary quality that traditional photographers hate but I found fascinating. No one got defensive—Halloween gave everyone permission not to care.
One photographer actually recognized who I was dressed as, which led to a great conversation in the middle of the street chaos. Most people just asked, "Who are you supposed to be?" Apparently not everyone's as nerdy about photography as I'd hoped.
When the rain started absolutely pouring, I was grateful for the Z6III's weather sealing. The camera got drenched but kept performing flawlessly. I was in such a flow state shooting that I completely forgot to capture video—just pure photo mode.
The Direct Flash Appeal
There's something about direct flash that breaks all the traditional rules, and I'm here for it. The harsh light, the surprised expressions, the caught-off-guard moments—it all creates an energy that bounced flash simply can't replicate. I think more photographers are coming around to this aesthetic lately, and I understand why.
As an introvert who normally hates photographing strangers, Halloween proved to be the ideal environment. People genuinely didn't care. My advice: shoot festivals and events to push your boundaries. And always be willing to delete a photo if someone has a negative reaction.
Final Thoughts
Obviously, Bruce Gilden shoots during the day, and I'm not using a Leica, so my impression had its limitations. But the experience taught me that getting uncomfortable with your photography can lead to genuinely interesting work.
The Nikkor Z 26mm f/2.8 performed admirably in terrible conditions—I think it could be a one-lens travel solution for many photographers. Full review coming soon.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I recommend Pike Place Market at 1 AM? Absolutely not (that's another story involving some sketchy encounters).
Thanks for following along on this experiment in photography madness.
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