F STOP

The “Set it at F.11” quote from Belinda Rathbone’s book on Walker Evans on July 16 jogged my memory, and prompted me to refer to my copy of Selden Rodman’s 1951 biographical essay on Ben Shahn (not Shawn, incidently), “Portrait of the Artists as an American”, in which he relays Shahn’s version of the quote, to wit: “F.9 for the bright side of the street, F 4.5 for the shady side!”

The instruction was issued as Evans dashed out the door to an assignment in Cuba. Shahn followed orders, literally, as he went up one side of the street and down the next, taking pictures. Since Rodman’s book was done in concert with Shahn, I’d be more inclined to go with the horse’s mouth.

ARTHUR L. KAYE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD