Weegee’s Secrets of Shooting with Photoflash
by Dan Wagner
Weegee’s Secrets published in 1953 by DESIGNERS 3
Many years ago, in the age of film noir, mobsters, and Park Avenue swells there was a cigar-chomping creature-of-the-night and newspaper photographer named Arthur Fellig, better known by his self-appointed tag, Weegee.
Armed with his trusty 4x5 Speed Graphic or Burke & James press cameras and a pocketful of flash bulbs, Weegee documented New York City’s nitty-gritty street nightlife in all its shame and glory. In 1945, after years of tireless dedication to his craft, the iconic book, Weegee’s Naked City was finally published.
Mel Harris’ foreword to Weegee’s Secrets
As wonderful as Weegee’s Naked City is, from a photographer’s perspective it’s somewhat incomplete without the 1953 book, Weegee’s Secrets of Shooting with Photoflash, that explains the art of using flashbulbs. Long out of print, and very hard to find, this book delves deep into Weegee’s photographic methods, philosophy, and most important to photographers, his technique. From admonitions such as “get a police radio, don’t have coffee nerve, watch out for the fire hose, and don’t throw used flash bulbs in the street” to advice on “what make a good news picture, how to use flash in sunlight,” and how to compute the guide number for your flash bulbs, Weegee is as unabashed at sharing his knowledge as he is with his unflinching approach to photography.
Computing Guide Numbers:
Guide Number/Distance to Subject = F/Stop
Therefore, GN 160/10 feet = f/16, and GN 160/6 feet = f/22 (rounded down).
This formula applies when used with a specific ISO, shutter speed, flash bulb, and flashgun reflector. You will need to re-compute the guide number each time one of these specifications changes. For the record, Weegee shot the majority of his photos from 6-feet at f/22 and 10-feet at f16. These smaller f/stops provided excellent depth of field. When hunting for photos, Weegee would stalk the streets with his camera set to 10-feet and f/16. This distance was useful for shooting people full-length. He also carried a flashlight for adjusting his camera settings in the dark.
Weegee’s Advice on the Proper Use of Flashbulbs:
“Do not shoot without checking all your flash equipment. Make sure all contacts, plugs, wiring are clean. Make sure you are using fresh batteries Change them every three months or after about 100 flashes. Remove batteries from the flashgun if you do not intend to use your equipment for sometime.
Do use the Westinghouse FLASH-CHECK bulb (available at all camera stores) before each shooting session. This handy little bulb shows you if everything is working okay. Don’t risk losing a good shot because you didn’t know your battery or equipment was faulty.
Do not use a bulb that is cracked or one that was dropped.
Carry your bulbs in the sleeve until you are ready to use them. This keeps them safe.”
William McCleery’s foreword from a 1945 1st edition of Weegee’s Naked City
Like countless other photographers, Weegee’s curiosity, courage, and distinctive eye inspired me to take to the night in search of images reminiscent of his. Walking the same streets Weegee did, shooting with vintage cameras and flash bulbs, with the words from his book resounding in my head made me feel as though it might be possible to actually bump into the man himself. Better yet were the reactions people had when they saw me shooting with flash bulbs. However, the best reactions were from fellow photographers interested in learning about Weegee’s tricks of the trade. It’s always nice when you can put what you learn from photo books to practical use.
Weegee’s famed 1938 Chevy mobile studio/darkroom-in-a-trunk!
Some of the same photographs featured in Weegee’s Naked City are also in Weegee’s Secrets. A favorite photo titled “Air-conditioned dreams…tenement fire escape on a hot night” shows children sleeping on a New York City tenement fire escape. I find myself drawn to this photo not just for its photographic merits, but also because it reminds me of my own father’s tales of sleeping outside on hot New York City nights. While the photos in the book resonate as relics from a bygone era, they are prime examples of a type of street photography still practiced today.
Arthur Fellig, better known as Weegee, was a New York city freelance news photographer from the 1930s to the 1950s. Here he talks about his career and gives ...
I hope this book review will inspire you to learn more about the great Weegee. Thanks for visiting The Cranky Camera!