The Speed Graphic Tradition Continues

[Ed Balko]

Have a look at the most recent edition of Newsweek in the "Special Report" section. In a large photograph showing an army of press photographers equipped with SLR's (presumably digital) covering the 9/11 hearings is a real press camera, a Speed Graphic standing tall and proud on a tripod, aimed at the witness.

The closest person to the Graphic is Governor Kean - anyone know if he was shooting that day?

[James Driscoll]

I could have sworn on TV I saw a view camera in the "photo pit"....but it went by so fast I couldn't tell.

Guess I was right.....would love to know who was using it.

[tim atherton]

According to a colleague who is shooting the hearigns as well it's Daivd Burnett for Time.

See below for info on him and others using 4x5 etc during the Dem Primaries

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0402/dis_burnett.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/essays/vanRiper/040226.htm

http://www.pdn-pix.com/photodistrictnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_c ontent_id=2085686

http://www.pdnonline.com/photodistrictnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu _content_id=2071563

[Frank Petronio]

Thanks to Burnett and others, there has been a run up on Aero-Ektars, mint Speed Graphics, and Littmann - err, Dean Jones - style converted 4x5 Polaroid 110bs on eBay. I'm guessing they are being bought by photo-journalists hoping to cash in on the trend, as Burnett reports that he is selling more pictures than ever by using the 4x5 instead the common Canon 1D/extreme lens combo so popular with the press corps.

[Julian_3496]

Slobodan Nimitrov has been using a graphic for years to do press work, usually with polaroid pos/neg http://www.laweekly.com/ink/01/07/8th.php

[Steve Hamley]

And Frank, I predict that most of those Aero Ektars and Speeds will be back on eBay in a few months. I can't believe a modern digital photojournalist is going to stick with one of these for any extended period.

Steve

[Ryan M]

If the money keeps coming in because clients like the different look that one of these cameras bring, then they will continue to use them. Having a different photographic style always pays, as long as people continue to like it.

[Neil Koppes]

Well, I grew up with the Speed Graphic during the mid-late 50s. I used it for high school shots, then later as I began my career as a "grip and grin" photographer for a large studio in town. I graduated to Rollies in the mid 60's and then to a specialization to architectural photography for the rest of my career with Sinars. But as I look above my computers here in my office, there sit 2 Speed Graphics on the shelf. I love the "heft" of that camera ..that was real photography! But nearby are my 2 pro digital cameras with which I still earn a living (retirement dosen't pay all that well!) Neil