The speed
graphic camera was first introduce in 1912 in Rochester, New York by Graflex. It
is called the famous press camera. It has been the most used camera from 1930s
until the 1950s. The word speed came its capability to have a maximum speed of
1/1000 sec. that could be achieve with the focal plane shutter. The speed
graphic camera was engineer for commercial photography such as documentaries,
landscape photography, and weddings.
Photo By: David Burnett
There haven’t a
camera similar to the speed graphic cameras. “The Speed Graphic has not been
manufactured since 1973 and most photographers today are unable to make a
direct comparison”. It introduces photographer to the new two shutters,
focal plane and in lens. Nothing in the graphic was automatic, everything was
manual which took a longer process to take a photo. Photographer started from
black and white to color which brighten up the world. According to Professor
Nordell, "The term
photography is derived from two Greek words, meaning light, phos, and writing
graphic."
A speed graphic
camera compares to a mostly use Canon 5d Mark III camera can be challenging.
According to Burnett “Speed
Graphic is challenging in and of itself. Focus is always an issue. Loading the
film in a timely manner and getting yourself where you need to be, while
schlepping around two different systems is a constant challenge”. Its
easily for today photography to not have to carry around much equipment as in
the 1930s.
Auther Weegee is
the most famous speed graphic camera user. His famous quote “f/8
and Be There” has been a philosophy for street photographer. He came from a
time where photographer is nothing like today. Aperture and priority shutter didn’t
exist in the 1930s, “Calculations
needed to be done in your head and even the best photographers would need at
least a few seconds to figure out the correct exposure”.
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