Louis Mendes Seen in Brooklyn

[ornate_wrasse]

My daughter sent me a text message along with an image of Louis Mendes she had taken.

Her message:

"I met this famous street photographer at a flea market in Fort Greene. Louis Mendes. Google him. We met at the Brooklyn Film Camera tent. You would have enjoyed the experience."

He gave her an image he took of her so I'm guessing he was using a Polaroid camera.

Here is the picture she took of him and his camera.

 

[jsrockit]

Seeing Louis Mendes can be a daily experience in NYC. Most of the time he's just hanging out in front (or on the side) of B&H.

 

[Calzone]

Ellen,

That could be my Vivitar 283 flash that I gave him last year at the Brooklyn Atlantic Antic.

Every year Luis invites me to shoot the Maw-Dee-Graw in New Orleans. He takes the train and works it.

Back in the day Luis hung out with W. Eugene Smith during the Jazz Loft days. Anyways Luis is a legend.

At an Armory Show Luis asked me to hold his camera and box of gear while he got some lunch, and for about 20 minutes I was a Louis Mendez impersonator. Anyways it was a powerful experience as the usual crowds that normally converge onto Louis surrounded and engaged with me. One of Louis' friends actually asked me what I was doing with his camera and waited for Louis' return to make sure everything was cool.

Cal

 

[gdmcclintock]

Here is a picture of Louis at the Penumbra Foindation.

 

[Prest_400]

I did not have the fortune to spot him in the streets back in December, during my NYC visit. One of the Legends. It would have been a blast to have a shot taken. That's something left for a next NYC visit I don't know when. How's he doing after the discontinuation of Fuji peel apart?

I think I still have the $$ bill I allocated for that photograph.

 

[Calzone]

I did not have the fortune to spot him in the streets back in December, during my NYC visit. One of the Legends. It would have been a blast to have a shot taken. That's something left for a next NYC visit I don't know when. How's he doing after the discontinuation of Fuji peel apart?

I think I still have the $$ bill I allocated for that photograph.

J-D,

I have a collection of street portraits that Luis took of me. If we had more time I could of called him to find his exact location to hook you up. Next time...

I expect to see Louis at PhotoPlusExpo soon.

Cal

 

[Prest_400]

J-D,



I have a collection of street portraits that Luis took of me. If we had more time I could of called him to find his exact location to hook you up. Next time...



I expect to see Louis at PhotoPlusExpo soon.



Cal

Yeah! After all it is impossible to do everything.

At times I am still amazed that I covered the basics of Madhattan pretty well in 3 days (+that day of LIC and Williamsburg).
Well, arrived a Monday 11PM and departed Friday 5PM so it wasn't a total 5 day trip.

People are amazed that I just went to NYC on my own and look at me funny.
Asking "Would you have come?" And finding For sure it's either couldn't or wouldn't, does the trick. I love that.
Had I come with someone else and the pace would be waaaaaaay slower. If the mood is to be slow, OK, but in NYC? Fughedaboudit

Then some friends found it by way of a Xmas postcard. I diss the typical poser photo in Instagram, ugh.
Would have been nice to send a portrait by Louis to myself.




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[viewfinder-m2]

Seeing Louis Mendes can be a daily experience in NYC. Most of the time he's just hanging out in front (or on the side) of B&H.

+1. Or Adorama!

 

[Calzone]

+1. Or Adorama!

Also the "Strand" bookstore (inside) on rainy days. I sometimes have caught Louis at Leica Gallery openings. He has a complete circuit of events all around the city.

A lesson to be learned is he always has his camera. He also taught me to always have my camera somehow attached to my body. He told me of a time in Coney Island that he put down his Crown Graphic for just a moment and someone stole it. Louis uses a strap and carries his camera.

He yells at me when he sees me without a camera, even If I'm stocking up with bulky chemicals like 5 liters of fixer, or a printer. "Where's you camera?" he says. LOL.

I have never seen him without a camera.

Cal

 

[ornate_wrasse]

That could be my Vivitar 283 flash that I gave him last year at the Brooklyn Atlantic Antic.

I'll have to tell Brittany that! She remembers you from that visit to the RFF meetup at the pub couple years ago

At an Armory Show Luis asked me to hold his camera and box of gear while he got some lunch, and for about 20 minutes I was a Louis Mendez impersonator. Anyways it was a powerful experience as the usual crowds that normally converge onto Louis surrounded and engaged with me. One of Louis' friends actually asked me what I was doing with his camera and waited for Louis' return to make sure everything was cool.

Must have been fun being a Louis Mendes impersonator 😀

BTW, I'll be in New York for a short visit right after Thanksgiving. Maybe we can get together for coffee or a beer while I'm there.

Ellen

 

[Calzone]

I'll have to tell Brittany that! She remembers you from that visit to the RFF meetup at the pub couple years ago



Must have been fun being a Louis Mendes impersonator 😀

BTW, I'll be in New York for a short visit right after Thanksgiving. Maybe we can get together for coffee or a beer while I'm there.

Ellen

Life has been so full. It seems like the year is going by in a blink of an eye. I'm feeling good about getting into this 10 artist cull down from the 19 artists so far selected. Seems like I have a good chance to get exhibited in October at a Manhattan Ministorage on Spring Street in SoHo.

Mention this to Brittany.

www.FreshOutOfStorage.com is a link that has 5 shots I submitted, but one is of Louis Mendez, Jamal Shabazz, and Anthony Lero on Broadway by the Leica Gallery before it closed.

Cal

 

[helen.HH]

I love this shot Louis Took of me April 2011... 😉

Louis Mendes Double Exposes HH by
Helen Hill, on Flickr


so the following month May 2011 I returned the Kind gesture...


Louis Mendes Strikes a Pose... by Helen Hill, on Flickr

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Awesome Helen! Thanks for sharing these images. The first one of you almost looks like a double exposure. It's very effective.

 

[Emile de Leon]

This is great stuff..!
Glad to hear the Strand is still there..

 

[Calzone]

This is great stuff..!
Glad to hear the Strand is still there..

Emile,

I see that the Strand has set up a sidewalk booth on 5th Avenue near 59th Street.

Things like Louis and the Strand are Iconic New York.

Cal