Louis Mendes, 85, Continues Street Photography Practice on New York Sidewalks Since 1959

Louis Mendes, an 85-year-old photographer, operates his street photography business on New York City sidewalks, using a vintage Speed Graphic press camera he acquired in 1959. Born in Jamaica, Queens in 1940, Mendes began taking photographs in 1954 after his sister handed him a camera. He started photographing parties and weddings professionally by 1959, the same year he purchased his signature camera. A man at Harlem's Audubon Ballroom advised him the camera could provide a living, which Mendes has followed ever since. His current practice involves offering portraits to passersby at locations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps and Grand Central Terminal, where he trades photographs with curious onlookers. Mendes has adapted his methods over decades, switching from Polaroid to Fujifilm Instax Wide film and navigating pandemic-era empty streets and cashless transactions. His archive contains decades of test shots, though clients typically keep the only copies of their portraits. Notable subjects have included photographer Gordon Parks. Mendes describes the street as both teacher and collaborator, stating 'The street is always difficult' with constant human interaction that fosters learning. He maintains a consistent compositional style focused on capturing everyday humanity, photographing 'every day, nine days a week.' The article originally appeared in Aperture magazine's issue 262, 'The End of Nature?'