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1971 Diner

ic-racer said:
Back in the days when only a 'photographer' could get an image like that. One had to know the equipment, right lens, probably guess at exposure with powerful bounce flash. Or if that is available light it was probably even more challenging.
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Available light. Nikon F. Maybe a 35mm lens. I think I asked permission. Probably Tri-X, maybe pushed. I never wrote down much.
 
Vaughn said:
Slacker will have to confirm it, but it looks like well-used flash to me (bounced off the ceiling?) But I have been wrong before and most likely will continue the trend...
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No, it available light. I just walked in off the street. For street shooting no flash for me.

The ladies seem to go for flash...



 
Fabulous photograph, as the others said. Indeed, a bit gritty - classic photojournalistic style. I noticed several items that help place the era: cheap food, the cig machine at the left wall, a plug-in wall clock (pre-quartz battery clocks), and a mechanical cash register with big finger levers. The coffee was probably wretched Folger or similar, but at least it was drip. It is quite a wide view. Could it have been taken with a 28mm?
 
Thanks again slackercrurster. !971. I believe that's the year Kowalski crashed the Challenger, with a fellow with his Nikkormat waiting for the shot. It's also the year I developed my first roll of film. And a year when you could go into a diner and enjoy the smell of bacon, maple syrup, coffee and cigarette and pipe smoke, and not a thing in the world wrong with it. A harmless shot by a guy and his camera. Some pictures I just like and don't know why. Freedom and working people, every one of them.
 
slackercrurster said:
Available light. Nikon F. Maybe a 35mm lens. I think I asked permission. Probably Tri-X, maybe pushed. I never wrote down much.
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I'll admit I'm surprised no bounce flash, as everything in the image indicates just that to me. We only see one light source, the bare bulb. That throws some shadows around, but the rest are coming from the camera position. Look at the shadows of the coffee machine along the wall, under the coffee pots where the cups are stored... You must have been standing in front of a window or something then, judging by the highlights and the light falloff. The glare in the coffee pots looks just like what you get from the flash hitting the ceiling. If you didn't say otherwise I'd bet the farm on well-mixed, bounced flash. Beautiful image, great document.
 

+1. The small room in the back, the light fall off in the ceiling there. The SOS sign above the cash register, it's shadow is below it. The same with the guy in the left foreground with the cup to his mouth. His arm shadow is below him and his plate has it's shadow below itself..

If it's not bounce flash then there is very good even overhead lighting.
 
slackercrurster said:
Here...1963

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I bought one of those Perrin camera bags off the ‘bay for about what it was discounted to in this ‘63 advert! I had to add some padding to keep my Lynx 5000 from banging around in it. If that was the finest bag available at the time, we’re light years ahead today!

Stan
 
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