Edward Weston: Portraits by Edward Weston

Edward Weston: Portraits Reviews

• 
  Peter Tillman

  I've been studying this book of portraits for quite some time. I've been an admirer of Weston's photographs for, well, as long as I can remember. I had the great good fortune to live in Tucson for many years. Among the benefits was the UofA's Center for Creative Photography,
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_... -- which holds Weston's photographic archives, along with such other notable Western photographers as Ansel Adams. And you will find the portrait of a young Ansel in this book, along with, it seems, just about every notable artist of the 1920s & 30s in the Western US & Mexico. Igor Stravinsky! Pablo Neruda! Wossisname, the fat guy, Frida's husband. Fridas's there, too (with clothes on). Very likely, your library will have a well-worn copy of this short Aperture book, with a cool intro by his son Cole. And if you go to Carmel (as you should), after an obligatory few hours at Point Lobos (that Weston claimed to know better than anyone living), you should seek out one or more of the photo galleries in town that carry Weston's photos -- since books can only carry you so far. And perhaps you should visit the studio of Kim Weston, Cole's daughter, Edward's granddaughter, carrying on the Weston family tradition. Her studio is on Wildcat Hill in Carmel Highlands, near where Edward & Charis had their home & studio in the WW2 years. I still need to do that. Next trip?
  
  In short, if you have any interest in 20th century American photography and history, this book is for you . 5+ stars!
• 
  Iain

  Enjoyable read, with a short foreword by Cole, an interesting portrait-centric bio by Susan Morgan, a few of the typical daybook entries, a somewhat random letter from Beaumont Newhall, a random but enjoyable letter from Paul Strand, an interesting letter from Ansel discussing possible ways forward for Edward's portrait business, and a good selection of rather nicely reproduced portraits, most of them quite large. The intro material includes one of the best portraits I've ever seen of Edward in his later years, and surprisingly it's by Neil.
  
  It's more a heavily printed magazine than a book, but it's nicely done and worth having if found at a reasonable price, which isn't hard. While I wouldn't call it one of the more impressive or inspiring EW volumes, it gives me nothing to complain about or deduct stars for, so four stars simply because it doesn't feel deserving of being among the very best, but there's nothing wrong with it either.
  
  The back of the magazine is a 1995 ad for Photoshop 3.0, which is perhaps a touch ironic given Edward's dedication to unretouched portraits.
• 
  Ellison

  Collection of B/W images, some bare skin, some famous faces appear.