While stepping in to B and H this morning, I came upon Louis Mendes, the 72 year old photographer with a knack for keeping his signature press camera at always an arm’s length. I asked if I could take his photo with my trivial iPhone. It’s rare and romantic (as chronicled in this post) to see something so vintage–for lack of a better word–still being cared for so intently.
Upon my asking he told me, “you’ve only got one shot.” And so with my one shot, I snapped.
“Let me see it now,” he asked after the photo had been taken.
I showed it to him and he suggested I could do better than what I’d done.
“You can’t be afraid to get too close with that thing,” He said. “That’s where the shot is. Now put it on my Facebook page. Google me, I’m on there.”
Here’s to you, Lou.
