Speed Graphic
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Produced by Graflex in Rochester, the Speed Graphic is commonly called the most famous press camera. It was standard equipment for many American press photographers until the mid-1960s.
Despite the common appellation of Speed Graphic, various Graphic models were produced between 1912 and 1973. The authentic Speed Graphic has a focal plane shutter that other Graphic models lack. The Speed Graphic was available in 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch- 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch and the famous 4 x 5 inch. Because of the backshutter or focal plane shutter, the Speed Graphic can be equipped with barrel lenses and thus expanding solutions for personal photographic creativity.
The Speed Graphic was a slow camera. Each exposure required the photograper to change the film holder, focus the camera, cock the shutter, and press the shutter. Photographers had to be conservative and anticipate when the action was about to take place to take the right picture. The cry, "Just one more!" if a shot was missed was common. President Harry Truman introduced the White House photographers as the "Just One More Club." [1]
The 1942-1954 Pulitzer Prizes for photography were taken with Speed Graphic cameras. A few winning photographs after 1954 were taken with Rolleiflex or Kodak cameras. 1961 was the last Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph with a Speed Graphic [1], which was of Otoya Yamaguchi assassinating Inejiro Asanuma on stage.
[edit] Other uses
Singer-songwriter Ben Folds released an EP in 2003 titled "Speed Graphic".
