Weegee at the movies

bonk · Oct 24, 2015

In the past, I have read several articles about Arthur Fellings aka. "Weegee" infrared Photography in cinemas:

Like this one: Dead Link Removed
Or that one: http://observer.com/2015/02/chelsea-cinema-shines-the-light-on-weegees-movie-lovers

The pictures that came with those articles are absolutely stunning and I really would like to own a book with those images. Are you aware of any purchasable publication that focuses on those images or contains a large portion of them?

Thank you very much for your help.

Sirius Glass · Oct 24, 2015

Thank you

Andrew O'Neill · Oct 24, 2015

Cool! I had no idea. He must've had an IR filter over his flash.

bdial · Oct 24, 2015

Andrew O'Neill said:
Cool! I had no idea. He must've had an IR filter over his flash.

IR flashbulbs were available in his day.

mike c · Oct 24, 2015

The artificial states that he did not use flash (IR flash bulbs) but I can not imagine how these shots where taken with out using IR lighting of some sort, the shutter speed must be around 1/30- 1/60 sec to freeze subject movement.

Sirius Glass · Oct 24, 2015

In his books Weegee described how is used IR flash bulbs to take photographs in theaters and on Coney Island beach at night.

bonk · Oct 26, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
In his books Weegee described how is used IR flash bulbs to take photographs in theaters and on Coney Island beach at night.

Which book are you talking about?

Saganich · Oct 26, 2015

While I can't recall the reference I read that he coated his regular flashbulbs with some concoction rather than use infrared bulbs.

Sirius Glass · Oct 26, 2015

bonk said:
Which book are you talking about?

I will have to go take a look in my library. I will get back to you.

Jim Noel · Oct 26, 2015

I believe the article is incorrect as i never saw an image of Weegee at work without a flash on his Speed Graphic. pictures of the inside of the trunk of his car show not only several cameras, but cases of flashbulbs. since he worked primarily at night bulbs were a necessity.

canuhead · Oct 26, 2015

sorry for taking this a bit OT but if you're in or around Toronto, there's an exhibit of Weegees's work at the Ryerson Imaging Centre. Can't remember when it ends.

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

Andrew O'Neill said:
Cool! I had no idea. He must've had an IR filter over his flash.

bdial said:
IR flashbulbs were available in his day.

Sirius Glass said:
In his books Weegee described how is used IR flash bulbs to take photographs in theaters and on Coney Island beach at night.

bonk said:
Which book are you talking about?

Sirius Glass said:
I will have to go take a look in my library. I will get back to you.

Weegee Naked City page 180 to 185

bonk · Dec 8, 2015

Iluvmycam said:
I think Unknown Weegee has some of his IR work in it.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2...ers_in_the_1940s_in_photographs_from_the.html

Weegee as well as Yoshiyuki was a big influence on my own IR work with my artists' book Piercing Darkness.

I just bought the book Unknown Weegee, I think it does not contain the aforementioned IR imagery. But it is a good book anyway.

So I am still looking for buyable publication that contain the IR images from the cinemas.

So if anyone has some more input ...

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AgX · Dec 8, 2015

bdial said:
IR flashbulbs were available in his day.

In the european literature I got I found advice to use to use filter foil or laquer. Only one hint at IR bulbs at all, from 1968 at GE #5R bulbs, with the comment that those typically are unavailabele in Europe.

From the net I learned that there were

-) General Electric #5R, #22R
-) Sylvania Blackout 25, Blackout 2
-) Toshiba bulbs#

but nothing specific over which period they were marketed.

And this:

In the December 1947 issue of Popular Photography, Weegee said he used midget infrared flashbulbs.

Interesting too is a statement from a text book that the GE#5R still showed a strong red light, stronger than self-laquered ones.

Weegee at the movies

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