Edward Weston (1886 - 1958)
Personal Background
Edward Henry Weston is an American photographer born March 24, 1886, in Illinois. He spent most of his childhood attending Oakland Grammar School before Weston began photographing at age 16 after his father gave him a Bulls Eye #2 camera. From there he began working as an itinerant photographer and went from door to door photographing children, pets, and funerals. Needing more training, Weston then attended the Illinois College of Photography in Effingham. Later he married his first wife, Flora Chandler in 1909 and had four children. Most significantly, in 1926, Weston began his work for which he is most deservedly famous: natural forms, close-ups, nudes, and landscapes.
Style
Weston became successful working in soft-focus, pictorial style in his early career where he won many salons and professional awards. However, within a few years he abandoned that style. After he renounced his Pictorialism style he now focused on a new emphasis on abstract form and sharper resolution of detail. Later he became one of the foremost champions of highly detailed photographic images. His style consists of black and white imaging of real life places, people, and objects in great detail and precision.
Philosophy
Weston's philosophy throughout his career focused on staying true to real life. He even says in a quote “The camera should be used for a recording of life, for rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself, whether it be polished steel or palpitating flesh.” He also believed in capturing the essence of a subject through his work. He did this by taking highly detailed photos true to what was in front of him. This work is what made him known for what he is today.
Influences
I was incredibly influenced by Weston's attention to detail and compelling nature to take real life pictures. His ability to see form in ordinary objects is an inspiring quality. All his photographs have a unique but purposeful feel to them making his art all the more interesting to look at. When staying true to what's happening in real life, it takes a keen eye to see things others can't. That is why his work is truly an influence on my own. When I take pictures I want to further think about how I can take an ordinary thing and show it off in an interesting way.
Compare and Contrast
Both images depict a side view of a detailed shell with a swirling pattern. Even though I wasn't able to find the exact shell type, the images are still similar composition wise. I was also unable to find a black background so I made due with the surfaces I had around me.
Both of these images show a shell standing upwards with the inside facing towards the camera. I was again unable to find the same shell type so I found one that had a interesting shape and opening that will catch viewers eyes. Both shells are also a nice white that contrasts with the dark background in both photographs.
These images both show the details and flow of cabbage leaves. They also are facing down against a black background to emphasize the lines and small characteristics of these leaves. The main contrast of these images are the way that they flow. In Weston's piece, his has a better structure and lush look compared to my leaf.
Artist Statement
These images where fun but challenging to take. This is because I didn't have all the right materials needed to accurately portray the amount of time and detail Weston has in his work. Editing was the fun part of these photographs because of the way the values look in black and white lighting, making you focus on the pictures features instead of the colors. Out of all the images, I enjoyed taking the cabbage leaf the most. This is because even though I couldn't get the flow I wanted, the details common in Weston's pieces were present. With my skills in photoshop I feel like I was somewhat able to portray Weston's style into my pieces.
Reasources
1. https://www.edward-weston.com/edwardweston
2. https://www.westongallery.com/original-works-by/edward-weston
3. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/edward-weston-2720
2. https://www.westongallery.com/original-works-by/edward-weston
3. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/edward-weston-2720