Louis Mendez, street photographer

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Wednesday, March 12. 2014

Louis Mendez, street photographer

A friend took this portrait of Louis Mendez, street photographer, 11/23/2013, in midtown Manhattan.

Identify that camera.

Posted by Bird Dog at 05:00 | Comments (14) | Trackbacks (0)

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Crown graphic

#1 Bolster on 2014-03-12 05:18 (Reply)

It's a Speed Graphic. It can use 4x5 film holders or the more convenient Film Pack of sheets holding 16 exposures.
It can also take adapters for 120 roll film and smaller sheets.
I used to use one for aerial photos.
Nice portrait!

#2 Staale on 2014-03-12 05:18 (Reply)

Canon sure-shot?

#3 Charles Curran on 2014-03-12 08:12 (Reply)

I think Staale is right.
As late as the mid Sixties the NY Daily News had dozens of photographers running around the city with Speed Graphics and a shoulder bag for film and bulbs.

During big fights at the Garden 3 or 4 News photogs (their word) would have their heads out under the bottom rope with cameras resting on the canvas. At moments of heavy action they would shoot in sequence hoping to get the perfect shot.

Is the Speed Graphic still part of the News logo?

#4 RickinNC on 2014-03-12 08:20 (Reply)

Speed Graphic it is. The go to press camera before roll film took over.
It was meant to be used hand held, unlike most other large format cameras

#5 El Polacko on 2014-03-12 09:17 (Reply)

That is a Super Speed Graphic - they were made from 1956 through 1973. They featured a 1/1000 shutter option which even to date is the fastest shutter speed of any large format camera. That one has been modified a little, but it's still the same Super Speed Graphic - I'm staring at one right now on the shelf next to my desk - my Dad's press photographer gave it to me when I returned from my second tour in Vietnam. Great camera. Image to image better than any of the Nikon or Olympus cameras I have and easily the equal, in some ways, of my Hasselblad 500 ELX.

#6 Tom (Vulgaris Magistrallis) Francis on 2014-03-12 11:28 (Reply)

I must be getting old, I recognized it as a Speed Graphic right away.

#7 Otto Maddox on 2014-03-12 13:27 (Reply)

So film is still available, I guess? He probably processes it himself, though.

#8 Norm Spaulding on 2014-03-12 13:30 (Reply)

The film is still very much available. About $5/shot for color and about $1.5/shot for B&W.

Link here: B&H Photo Video

#8.1 DaveH (Link) on 2014-03-12 21:23 (Reply)

Crown Graphic. The shutter is in the lens.

The Speed Graphic has a cloth focal-plane shutter in the camera body and there is a box on the left of the body with the mechanism.

#9 DaveH (Link) on 2014-03-12 19:08 (Reply)

The Vivitar 283 is also up there in the workhorse category.

#10 Cris on 2014-03-12 20:10 (Reply)

It's a Graflex Pacemaker Crown Graphic 4x5 Camera. If you look closely, you can make out the "Crown GRAPHIC" logo on the plate above the lens.

#11 J. S. Kidd on 2014-03-12 23:21 (Reply)

I took the photo. Mr. Mendez was using a Polaroid back and taught me "shutter drag." He said "Freeze," then snapped a photo at 1/10 second so the cars in the background were streaked while I remained sharp. I stored his signed photo in a safe place and now I can't find it. I asked if I could take his photo, and he said "Sure, but you get only one shot." After all was finished, "$20 please." If you have any old flashbulbs left, he will buy them. He hangs at times at Photocare, 41 West 22nd Street, NY: more expensive than Adorama, but open on Saturdays.

#12 Komrad on 2014-03-13 15:10 (Reply)

P. S.: I used a Canon G12

#13 Komrad on 2014-03-13 15:13 (Reply)

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Wednesday, March 12. 2014

Louis Mendez, street photographer