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edward weston cameras?


herz1

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Generally speaking, EW used a 4x5 or 3-1/4x4-1/4 Graflex slr for portraits, and an 8x10 view camera for most other work. I don't recall any mention of smaller formats. He complains a lot in the Daybooks about rickety, light-leaking 8x10s, and there is reference at some point to an 8x10 Century Universal camera. As far as lenses, there was the famous $5.00 rapid rectilinear in Mexico, and a portrait by Tina Modotti that shows EW with an 8x10 and large portrait-type lens, perhaps a Wollensak Verito. For the later work, consult the book "California and the West" or other books in the literature.
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To expand slightly on Mark's and DJ's correct comments.

 

In Mexico Edward used the 8X10 View and 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 Graflex. For lenses were the Wollensak Verito f:4 and Graf Variable (an anastigmat corrected for f:3.8) and the Rapid Rectilinear 11 1/4" in barrel which he used with a Packard shutter. This is the lens he gave to Brett in 1937, who later passed it on to the Eastman House.

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I saw a fascinating video of Beaumont Newhall this past week here at the Center for Creative Photography in honor of the current Weston / Mather exhibit. This video was from 1990, three years prior to Newhall's death, and was a fairly comprehensive look at Weston's work over his lifetime. It was a lecture, with slides taken by Newhall and prints from the 1990 Weston exhibit at the CCP.

 

For those interested, the CCP here in Tucson has a series of videos of Weston's work, Newhall, Adams and a few more. They were filmed in the auditorium and other places (one was of Newhall's 75th birthday with Adams in attendance at Point Lobos) but are not high quality video. They retain a sense of the work done by some of the recent great photographers and their lives. Admission is free and the library has thousands of negatives by Weston, Adams, etc. It is worth a visit if anyone ever comes to Tucson and has a little time to look around. Located on the University of Arizona campus.

 

P.S. Winter is the best time to visit, summer gets hot.

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