A Day At Edward Weston's Home

I just visited the site and found nothing distasteful about it, so he is selling prints of where his grandfather worked, big deal! some people admire Weston enough that they might get some enjoyment from these prints. Me, I dont hold any phtographer in that much awe, but still I did not find anything wrong with it. SO he is trying to make a little bit of money from his name, what is wrong with that?

Not only did I not find anything wrong with the site, but I ordered the May selection.

This thread will vanish soon, but I have a comment.

At the workshop, and from my reading, Edward wanted his photos to be enjoyed, and often gave them away. He wanted them to be reprinted and made available to the public.

He is not a god and never even liked being called an artist...he was proud to be known as a photographer (that's from his Daybooks).

Ansel Adams donated his negs to the Center For Photography in Arizona with the expressed intention that they be made available to qualified photography students to reprint them for learning purposes, using advanced techniques (see end of: Ansel Adams Photographer, video).

I see nothing wrong with Kim photographing and selling some prints of Edward's desk or parts of his home. Many people would like to have such a print, and the funds do keep the home alive as a center for photography and workshops.

At the workshop, none of us were restricted in photographing anything we wanted. Above I kiddingly said that you could buy one of my photos of his desk, but I should say that I would not do that without permission. In fact, I would rather just give it away.

I see nothing tacky about it, but that's just my opinion, and I could be wrong.

Thanks for the pics. I visited Weston's "little house on Wildcat Hill" in a group of 20 from the Large Format Convention just concluded in Monterey. It's fairly easy to find, but since privacy is requested, please contact Kim and Gina for arrangements. It was a $75 field trip, totally worth it. I would suggest paying the $150 and staying there as an alternative.

Wonderful to be there and see the space largely as he left it. Very historic, and very worthwhile. Some of Edward's gorgeous originals were on the walls, across the room from that tiny little primitive darkroom that he used so well. The print cabinet adjacent to the darkroom still has his paper labels on the shelf edges. His original wire dodging tools were laid out under the little light bulb for contact printing.

All this matters very much to me. He was more than a photographer, he was a great liver of life itself. Very inspiring he was, and will continue to be.

I don't begrudge his grandson and his family any reasonable means they need to take to earn a living. I'd far prefer that they do so and remain able to preserve the legacy for those yet to come. They both were very open and direct in all evident respects.

Many of us made the pilgrimage to Point Lobos, and made our own negatives of moving scenes there. It is awesome to walk the little "Weston Beach" where his ashes were scattered.

Edward never drove a car himself, so he would walk to Point Lobos with his 8 X 10. After the house visit, the image of him walking with the camera and tripod comes unbidden to mind. This is one "latent image" that will stay with me, a long, long time.

Best, Todd in Tarzana.

"but even so you make it sound as if he was a petty SOB"

this is such a wild jump from what I said, it defies explanation.

Ed said he wanted Brett to print the images, correct? so you make this jump in logic that that means anyone down the line should be able to print from his negs as long as he is related? makes no sense.

Having his descendants profit from his work is one thing, but hacking out prints from Ed's negs is another.--no wonder Brett burned most of his negatives.

Jorge, if you don't have a problem with it that's fine. I personally think it's really tacky, I simply gave my opinion.

Yes, Edward was a photographer, I think we all know that. If he didn't mind who printed his images, then why did he specify Brett and ask that this was noted on each print?

"Ansel Adams donated his negs to the Center For Photography"

this is a far cry from what Kim is doing, all prints made by students never make it out of the Center and are never sold. Ansel's negs (not all were donated btw) are there for learning, not to make a profit for a less talented relative. As far as the A.Adams special edition prints, I don't really know what the conditions are for Alan Ross or any future successors.

I agree with you that many will want a print showing nothing more than Ed's furniture, funny and sad as it is. I would think that this is the type of thing Ed would roll his eyes at. I would imagine he would put this in the same category as his wish to not be called an "artist".

Todd Foster...I appreciate your comments very much. Well stated.

Mark...Debate is a healthy endeavour and I wish we had more time on this thread to keep it going, as well as our discussions on chemistry and technique.

Kim was a paid carpenter for many years (his profession) until he was able to support the Weston home through his own photography and teaching. He is not leaching off the reputation of his grandfather.

I see this whole issue more in an historical context than one of photographic technique or business dealings. Anything he can do to keep the Weston house and tradition alive is fine with me.

I went to that particular workshop because it was focused on the history of the home and family, but I came away learning more about LF photography than I every dreamed possible.

Eventually, they want to build a permanent personal home up the hill, and transform the original Weston house into a permanent "museum" and site for workshops.

I think this is an honorable goal, and I will help support it by taking more workshops, as my finances provide.

For me, it was a day to remember!

Too bad this won't stay on a few more days. I'd like to get into some more of the simple contact printing methods used, Kim Weston's way of working, water bath for negs, friendly debates, and other items.

Anyway, I'm going to end with my version of Edward's fireplace. I am not cropping the windows out for two reasons: first, to the left is where Charis stood for the photo of her in the window and second, under the window at the right was Edward's bed, until Parkinson's took its toll and his son Neil built a seperate bedroom. Edward lived in a one room house. It is now two rooms. Over the mandle are 4 originals, with the center left being Diego Rivera and the center right of Tina Modatti reciting poetry, both in Mexico.

Blessings.<div></div>

Todd:

<p>

<i>"Too bad this won't stay on a few more days. I'd like to get into some

more of the simple contact printing methods used, Kim Weston's way of

working, water bath for negs, friendly debates, and other items."</i>

<p>

Start a new thread. I'd be interested in reading more! :)

<p>

--<br>

Eric<br>

<a href="http://canid.com/">http://canid.com/</a><br>