Perritzbromena? a film used by Ben Shahn...

[eoeaa]

I stumbled upon this little bit from an interview from Ben Shahn.

"I didn't even use a light meter. I used my own judgement on it. So, that I missed a lot of things and then I also was very fond of the German film called Perritzbromena which is very, very fine grain and it was very slow. I remember spending the whole evening at some dance hall and not getting a single thing."
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http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-ben-shahn-12760

He mentions this film Perritzbromena, which I can't find any reference to. Anyone knows anything about this?

eoeaa

p.s. this is my film post on this lovely forum, which I have followed with pleasure for a while.

 

[rbiemer]

There was a film (or film company, not sure) called Perutz so I think the transcript you read has a spelling error.
Rob

 

[Fotohuis]

Yes, Perutz was the (German) company in this matter. They made film and chemicals. Under Perutz W665 a long time till in the 70's the famous Windisch Ortho- Phenylene Diamine Ultra Fine Grain developer was available in a commercial way.

 

[Steve M.]

What I know is that the guy was a printer and painter in the social-realistic manner (and a darned good one). He may have shot a little photography, but that was minimal compared to his art.

I mean, the man was using a very slow film in a dance hall (low light, moving subjects) w/ no meter??? Perhaps there's a reason he wasn't known as a photographer.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Perutz Peromnia, perhaps?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Freakscene]

Perutz Peromnia, perhaps?

I have seen the archive of Ben Shahn's negatives and there are many on Perutz Peromina. The spelling mistakes are probably from transcriptional errors.

Marty

 

[eoeaa]

Thanks for the responses. I'll have to look into the Pertuz Peromina.

Steve M., Ben Shahn is mostly known for his paintings, but was a wonderful photographer too. He did all of his work in the 30s and was one of the Farm Security Administration photographers (and one of Roy Stryker's most favored). He used a leica i, and often with a right angle viewfinder, to permit his candid style. Yale published a good book on his photography.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fachap01.html
http://johnedwinmason.typepad.com/j...10/03/shahn-leica-right-angle-viewfinder.html