Louis Mendez has been taking Street portraits with a Speed Graphic since the 60’s and when I met him, with a polaroid Back & a Metz.
I had the Good fortune to have had a chat with him and Whilst I was with him, a passing young man in his 20’s stopped next to us and asked Louis if he wanted to sell his camera!!? Louis, Looked at the Boy and asked: How Much you Got!!??
11 Bucks said the boy!!! And Louis replied: Add another 1100 & we might have a deal!! the boy smiles & said, thats ok, I just wondered if you knew what you had in your hands!!! ( Unmitigated audacity!)
Louis then took my Portraite, signed it and gave it to me.
When his Lens was pointing at me, I took a look at its surface and said: You know, this lens could do with a clean!!! Looks like it has never been cleaned Louis!!! He smiled and replied: Thats ok…It adds Atmosphere to my pictures!!!
Louis is an old timer & a gent. A REAL Street Photographer and a Genuine Article. I’m sure most of the NYC Street Photographers who might know him…..Agree. God Bless.
Refuse To Die
I will love to see the picture he took of you, he looks like a very nice person. 🙂
And he actually is very nice and gentle. I’ve recently moved and my picture amongst many other things are in storage and when I get to it , I’ll post it . Thanks for reading it though