Atelier ying, nyc.
Anything about Weegee will inevitably be about Old New York. This camera fantasy is reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting of a lone diner in the early hours of the morning, yet with a warm inviting appeal. Weegee seems to have had a very poor diet. One anecdote says he ate meals of Uneeda biscuits and Heinz baked beans. I’d like to imagine for this homage a connection to the Automat in Nyc in the 1930’s. This camera, a gift for Weegee, combines structurally a Polaroid Land camera and a Graflex National although it is a Ying Digitized classic (as there is ample length to hide it all inside the case, digital micro 4/3rd placed in a 90 degree formation with porro prisms to direct the light path from the Rodenstock lens). It also has a 4-section flip out tray not unlike a Japanese bento box and an opulent side door, like in the Prohibition, to a sizable cigar humidor full of Nat Sherman’s line of ‘timeless’ coronas (an actual cigar band has been attached onto my working notes above. Weegee frequented Nat Sherman’s, the famous NY tobacconist. This portable diner-camera serves him a healthier version of his original meal: low sodium beans with plenty of mineral-rich molasses and minced onions, a fried egg, rice, a packet of Starbuck’s Instant columbian coffee, and a packet of US Army licorice. Both compartments are lighted from the inside emitting a warm glow not unlike welcome lanterns in the windows of American homes. A lunch box handle puts a less serious spin on things. A handsome black leather encloses the whole camera. There are red silk vanity curtains behind the curved window and the cigar box door can be engraved. Luxurious appointments, something Weegee sorely lacked at this point in his life (ca. 1938). Dinner, coffee, cigars, and licorice. What more could a street photographer want?
The cigar humidor is cedar lined and recalls Nat Sherman’s store interior with it’s warmly lighted cabinets containing humidors and smoking accessories. An optional set of black and aluminum wheels are offered instead of the wooden legs shown. This would make the camera also into a serving trolley.
As a side note I had the very good fortune to have gone to the Automats in Union Square and at Grand Central Station areas as a young child, as well as other now legendary Nyc places like Mary Elizabeth’s, Zum’s, Chock full ‘o nuts, Woolworth’s etc. The Automat had great macaroni and cheese.
Please look at my Weegee set, I created it for you Weegee enthusiasts!
Please view on black
Posted by atelier-ying on 2013-03-09 03:59:59
Tagged: , architecture , atelierying , cameramodification , classic , classiccamera , classiccameras , design , iphotooriginal , manhattan , moleskine , newyork , newyorkcity , night , nightshot , notebook , notes , ny , nyc , polaroid , travelersnotebook , vintage , diner , starbuck’s , coffee , natsherman’s , timeless , licorice , automat , h&h , horn&hardart , zum’s , maryelizabeth’s , oldnewyork , iPhoto , new New York , new , Europe , York , China , Chinese , historic , retro , David lo
