DEM art&design: edward weston

Edward Weston

born in Illinois in 1886
got his first camera when he was sixteen of his father
first images were of his aunt farm and the parks near by
1906 got a job as a itinerant photographer
began formal training in photography after realising the importance this would have on his work
had interest and ability to use lighting and poses to bring out the best in a subject
the term pictorialism was a style of fine art photography Weston is termed with
Between 1927 and 1930, Weston made a series of monumental close-ups of seashells, peppers, and halved cabbages, mushrooms.

It is this series I'm interesting in.

became on of the founding member of the Group f/64 in 1932 with Ansel Adams, Willard Van Dyke, Imogen Cunningham and Sonya Noskowiak.
Weston became the first photographer to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship for experimental work in 1936.
Weston began experiencing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in 1946 and in 1948 shot his last photograph of Point Lobos.
died in 1958 at his home and his ashes were were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Pebbly Beach at Point Lobos.

I think was a nice touch considering his last photograph was of Point Lobos after getting his illness.

While Edward Weston has a catalogue of images all worthy to be highlighted or looked at, his black and white still lifes are the ones I'm looking into this time around. Firstly the images of the mushrooms, are the ones I find of interest, because I myself find I'm captivated with this subject matter also.

The up close and in depth images I feel are giving a real basic look are what for many is a uninteresting subject but also gives a true aesthetic beauty. These images highlight the texture, form and shape by using lighting, composition and background.

Looking at the above image, I like how the gills have real detail. They look like their almost dancing. The shadows and highlights and cropping help to create that of an interesting image.

Here are some of the photos I've changed to black and white.. while some work really well I feel that the filter from colour does take away a lot of the beauty I'd seen in the image on site..

zoomed in from the image below. so soft and beautiful.

had the background been all black I think the mushroom would of been highlighted better. I find the scales on the top get lost a little in this image.

I feelif I had set out to take photographs in black and white in the first place, the images could have worked out a lot better and stronger. I didnt think about compostion, light or texture etc. I just took a snap at a subject matter I found of interest. something to consider!

My colour copies