Louis Mendes--That guy with the Graphic you see everywhere in Manhattan

[David A. Goldfarb]

I always see this guy anywhere people are dressed up and might want a picture of themselves, and if it's a place that's really crowded like a gospel show where he's trying to catch ladies in their church hats on the way in, out and during intermission, he usually has a couple of friends with Graphics working with him. I've never photographed him or bought a photograph from him, but if I'm carrying my Technika, we usually exchange a few words or at least nod from opposite sides of the street.

Someone mentioned to me a few weeks ago that he got a little feature in the Times, and I just came across it just now--

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/nyregion/03polaroid.html

Look at the slide show. Turns out that one of his specialties is Polaroid double exposures.

 

[Sanjay Sen]

Whereabouts have you seen him? I am yet to come across this gentleman.

I recall reading another feature on him, but I don't remember where.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I saw him hanging out in front of B&H a few weeks ago. I first saw him and his crew working a gospel show at the Beacon. I've seen him at parades like the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, and I've seen him in Times Square just photographing tourists. I saw him walking around at PhotoPlus one year. Here's a photo of him by Helen Bach--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Here's a flickr stream of photographs of him--

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1327532@N21/

Here's a Facebook fan page that someone created for him--

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=307598391990&ref=nf#!/LOUIS.MENDES.PHOTOS?ref=ts

He's everywhere.

 

[Sanjay Sen]

I remember Helen's photo when she posted it back when. Interesting that there's a Flickr stream and a Facebook fan page for him.