Most of his notable photographs were taken with very basic press photographer equipment and methods of the era, a 4x5 Speed Graphic camera preset at f/16, @ 1/200 of a second with flashbulbs and a set focal length of ten feet.
Most of his notable photographs were taken with very basic press photographer equipment and methods of the era, a 4x5 Speed Graphic camera preset at f/16, @ 1/200 of a second with flashbulbs and a set focal length of ten feet.
Wilhelm (Sarasota)
He recommended practicing two distances--6 and 10 feet if I remember correctly. It's in the essay at the end of _Naked City_. Cartier-Bresson did the same, but I think with one distance. If you can master zone focusing and shoot at f:16 on 4x5", and can mostly shoot at the same subject distance, it can work.
Good answer. What was the question?
Brian Ellis
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
a mile away and you'll have their shoes.
Don't know for sure... but the fixation on one or two distances was as much for flash exposure purposes as it was for zone focusing.Originally Posted by Brian Ellis
More of a FYI than a question, Brian. DOF for a 127mm lens at f:16 and 10 feet is about 6' to 18' which pretty well covers the sort of things that Weegee specialized in.
Incidentally, I don't seem to be able to find the Guide Number for Press 40 flashbubs. Can anybody help? (Same as GE #11.)
Wilhelm (Sarasota)
250 @ 100 ASA and 1/30 shutter speed or lower.
(from flash exposure calculator in 1977 Kodak Professional photoguide).
280 @ 80 - 125 ASA and 1/30 or lower
(Sylvania P-25 box)
You recall that #11, P40 and P25 all the same GN, right Bill?
I've found the Kodak guide to be right on... especially when one pays attention to the shutter speed compensation (I rarely shoot at 1/30 or slower using handheld Graphic and flash.)
Last edited by BrianShaw; 24-Jun-2007 at 07:16. Reason: fixed boo-boo
Thanks, Brian. As I recall, the P25 (GE#5) was one stop slower than the P40.
I was reminded of Weegee last night as I watched "The Naked City" on TCM, (named after and based losely on Weegee's book and work). As they said in the introduction, "that city which existed for over 100 years is gone forever" with the introduction of TV and air conditioning.
Wilhelm (Sarasota)
I've read that Bill, but don't know for sure. The Kodak guide lumps them all together. Maybe the reason is that they are assuming studio reflector for the screw-base and polished bowl for the others.
All I have on hand are a few 11's and a bunch of 25, and 5.'s I still use the 25 and 5 on occasion but haven't used the 11's.
What bulb/reflector did Weegee use?
Eight inch, probably P-40, maybe 50... answered my own question.
http://museum.icp.org/museum/collect...pecial/weegee/
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