Mamiya 7 in the Press Pit at the Capitol

madNbad · Jul 22, 2022

Recorded the January 6th committee hearing on CSPAN. Before the hearings start, there is some footage of the photographers standing around and in the midst of all the digital cameras there is a guy with a Mamiya 7 and a big honking flash. I thought I was wrong until shortly after the witnesses were seated I'm watching him in the background ripping open a roll of 120 and loading it in record time. I guess film's not dead.

250swb · Jul 22, 2022

I'm surprised that you are surprised. Important events are usually accompanied by artists who record or memorialise the event in a different way from the mainstream media. Hence war artists, quilt makers, writers, poets, sculptors, performers, musicians, etc. who will all be recording their own take on Jan 6. Joel Meyerowitz was on site the day after the Twin Towers with his 8x10, which kind of puts sitting in the Press pit with a Mamiya 7 into perspective.

madNbad · Jul 22, 2022

It wasn’t so surprising he was there, from his interaction with the other photographers he’s he’s a Capitol regular, it just the big networks never spend the time to show the press pool. CSPAN is the House of Representatives television network so they spend most of the time airing proceedings and not so much on the commentators.

BradS · Jul 23, 2022

It might have been David Burnett. There was another photojournalist (not Dave Burnett) at one of the Jan 6th hearings using a Crown Graphic on a tripod.

madNbad · Jul 23, 2022

No, it was a slightly younger, fairly large man. He was wearing a maroon t-shirt if you happen to get a chance to see any of the coverage. I’m going to keep looking around an try to find out who he is. Thanks for the tip, it did take me to a New Yorker interview with David Burnett.

madNbad · Jul 23, 2022

He’s behind the guy with the Graphic:

https://preview.redd.it/764na9zil6b91.png?width=1189&format=png&auto=webp&s=8a03a7eb80af4c85c59591576ea836009be3a5e4

BradS · Jul 23, 2022

Gotcha...
the guy in the pink shirt and tan jacket (on right in photo below). Yup, way younger than Burnett.

photo credit: Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images

madNbad · Jul 23, 2022

BradS said:
Gotcha...
the guy in the pink shirt and tan jacket (on right in photo below). Yup, way younger than Burnett.

I watched him reload that camera in about twenty seconds.

BradS · Jul 23, 2022

madNbad said:
I watched him reload that camera in about twenty seconds.

way cool. I'd be very interested in seeing his work.
What network were you watching? Each one seemed to do/show different things while waiting for the main event.
I loved the ones that showed what was going on in the room while folks were getting settled and waiting to start. I was watching PBS - they had cameras rolling in the room with no talking heads. I saw this guy but the camera didn't register in my mind some how.

madNbad · Jul 23, 2022

CSPAN, the House of Representatives network. I figured they would be the best source of coverage.

faberryman · Jul 23, 2022

BradS said:
Gotcha...
the guy in the pink shirt and tan jacket (on right in photo below). Yup, way younger than Burnett.

He is the only one that doesn't have his eye glued to the viewfinder or rear screen. He has already gotten the shot he wanted, and feels pretty confident that his subject didn't have his eyes closed.

The press corp is so comical. They are a parody of themselves.

Cubao · Jul 23, 2022

faberryman said:
The press corp is so comical. They are a parody of themselves.

madNbad · Jul 23, 2022

I’m trying to figure out who he is just to be able to view his work.

StepheKoontz · Jul 23, 2022

Here is a screen grab of the guy with the 4X5 and I think the guy with the 6X7 is in this too. The 4X5 has some sort of brass lens on it.

madNbad · Jul 23, 2022

That’s him at the left side of the frame. The other thing was how quiet the cameras are. With the move to mirrorless, no more slap from the SLR’s.

jimjm · Jul 23, 2022

Photographer with the Speed Graphic is most likely Frank Thorp V, a journalist for NBC News. His wife is NBC reporter Hallie Jackson. He's been using an Aero Ektar and a petzval for some of his Capitol shots. He's been posting a lot of recent stuff on his instagram.

Finn lyle · Jul 23, 2022

It looks like the image hes taking in post 14 might be in this instagram post, second to last image.

gone · Jul 23, 2022

Thanks for posting that Finn lyle. When I clicked on the photo, it took me to more of his work. The shots look nothing like the photos we see online from the N.Y. Times, Wash Post, ABC News, etc. They're better, more deliberate, and that one pic of Bannon is amazing for a grab shot.

To me it means there's still some very good photojournalism today, but don't expect to see it on the popular TV and internet outlets. Those mainly just reprint AP photos and stories, and not everyone looks at Twitter or Instagram.

madNbad · Jul 23, 2022

Who is the masked man with the Mamiya?

faberryman · Jul 23, 2022

momus said:
To me it means there's still some very good photojournalism today, but don't expect to see it on the popular TV and internet outlets. Those mainly just reprint AP photos and stories, and not everyone looks at Twitter or Instagram.

Where would you find very good photojournalism other than the Magnum site?

calico · Jul 23, 2022

faberryman said:
Where would you find very good photojournalism other than the Magnum site?

Agence Vu is good. There are some great photographers there.

Series - Agence VU'

agencevu.com

calico · Jul 23, 2022

jimjm said:
Photographer with the Speed Graphic is most likely Frank Thorp V, a journalist for NBC News. His wife is NBC reporter Hallie Jackson. He's been using an Aero Ektar and a petzval for some of his Capitol shots. He's been posting a lot of recent stuff on his instagram.

His film images give the hearings a fictional feeling, like scenes from a movie (an old movie). Good for him for using film in this context where it normally isn't used.

Finn lyle · Jul 23, 2022

They really give a concrete feel to these political events which seem like theater often.

fpd2 · Jul 24, 2022

Finn lyle said:
They really give a concrete feel to these political events which seem like theater often.

I wonder how they will be remembered in 20 or 40 years, given the massive and rapid coverage of everything happening now, and the multitude if available photographs. Perhaps a future memoir will feature a choice of artistic, film photographs.

nicelynice · Jul 30, 2022

madNbad said:
Who is the masked man with the Mamiya?

Mamiya photographer is Louie Palu, a Nat Geo photographer who, uh, sometimes uses a Mamiya

Louie Palu (@louiepalu) • Instagram photos and videos

26K Followers, 306 Following, 156 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Louie Palu (@louiepalu)

www.instagram.com

Edit: Apparently, he has six of them!

Mamiya 7 in the Press Pit at the Capitol

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