Customer Reviews

Edward Weston: Nudes

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the type of book I was looking for concerning Weston's nude photography. The background, written by his wife and model, was excellent, and the pictures were laid out perfectly. Highly recommended to any Weston fan.

Above all, this is a gorgeous collection of figure studies in black and white. Some photos, like the cover, celebrate the elegance of the human form. Others explore figure as a medium for abstraction - simple shape, almost detached from the person, quite unlike photo as portraiture.

In a secondary way, this is a record of the time in which the photos were taken, mostly the 1930s. Figure as abstraction was a relatively recent innovation, and Weston embraced it fully. He also seemed to combine abstraction with darkroom technique, sometimes bordering on solarization. This also captures the style of the times, when shaving wasn't necessarily part of a lady's grooming - surprising to a modern eye, but a happy reminder that womanly beauty comes from the woman herself, not from products and processes she subjects herself to.

The real surprise in this book, however, is the commentary by Charis Wilson. She was Weston's wife for many years, and model for a huge part of Weston's figure ouvre. She gives unique insight into Weston's working style, one that treated the models as collaborators rather than raw material.

It is interesting that Wilson discusses Weston's work with other models with the same enjoyment she shows in discussing his work with her. As she points out, the photo is truly about the photographer more than it's about the model. And, because of her long and close relationship with Weston, this is a very affectionate discussion of his work.

//wiredweird

This book is great with several of his most famous photos. The print quality is good and the feel of the book as well. It has some texutal information which I found interesting as a bonus!

book is a great representation of the movie detailing the relationship between weston and his passion for photography. arrived timely and in great shape.

Reproductions are pretty good. Text lacks meat although the photos don't. Incidentally, Weston did photograph a few nude males although you wouldn't know it from this book.