A short tour of Edward Weston's darkroom

[bdial]

Starts with snippets of an old newsreel, then moves to Kim Weston showing the space and discussing his grandfather's work.



Note, there is a brief glimpse of one of EW's nudes.

 

[Peter Schrager]

thanks Barry!

 

[absalom1951]

Thank you !

 

[AgX]

The youg folk around him: models or students?

 

[pentaxuser]

Very interesting video. What would the date of the original part have been? Sometime in the 1940s I am guessing

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[AgX]

1948

 

[Merg Ross]

The snippets are from the film made by Willard Van Dyke in 1948 entitled, The Photographer. The actress hired to play the apprentice was Franny Clausen. Willard's film is available on the internet, and was filmed in the early stages of Edward's battle with Parkinson's disease. I met Edward in 1949 at his home in Carmel, the darkroom of which is portrayed in the film.

 

[AgX]

See here too (starting at about 1/3 down):
https://ascmag.com/blog/johns-bailiwick/willard-van-dykes-mentor-edward-weston

 

[AgX]

The full documentary:

https://archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.46998

 

[Merg Ross]

The youg folk around him: models or students?

Re the film referenced below (The Photographer), in addition to the actress Franny Clausen you will see Edward's sons (Neil and Cole drinking wine); also seen are Morley Baer and his wife Frances who were students at the time. I believe this is an edited version of the original film.

 

[Merg Ross]

Re the film referenced below (The Photographer), in addition to the actress Franny Clausen you will see Edward's sons (Neil and Cole drinking wine); also seen are Morley Baer and his wife Frances who were students at the time. I believe this is an edited version of the original film.

Reference is to film in post #9.

 

[jtk]

The snippets are from the film made by Willard Van Dyke in 1948 entitled, The Photographer. The actress hired to play the apprentice was Franny Clausen. Willard's film is available on the internet, and was filmed in the early stages of Edward's battle with Parkinson's disease. I met Edward in 1949 at his home in Carmel, the darkroom of which is portrayed in the film.

Thanks for those recollections. I'm especially interested in Weston's Parkinsons, which hit so many fine photographers back when they used pyro (there's debate about pyro and Parkinsons). My mother actually waned me about that cc 1968) And my own most important teacher, Conrad Forbes, who was one of Minor White's direct students lived with it from 1966 until around 1982, when it killed him.

Merg, I admire the work in your website.

 

[Louis Nargi]

Thank you very well done. If you like E.W. The DVD Eloquent Nude is excellent, all about E.W. photographic live with an interview from Charis Wilson.

 

[Merg Ross]

Thanks for those recollections. I'm especially interested in Weston's Parkinsons, which hit so many fine photographers back when they used pyro (there's debate about pyro and Parkinsons). My mother actually waned me about that cc 1968) And my own most important teacher, Conrad Forbes, who was one of Minor White's direct students lived with it from 1966 until around 1982, when it killed him.

Merg, I admire the work in your website.

Thank you.

Yes, the pyro Parkinsons connection has long been a concern. It has, in fact, been my concern since I started mixing chemicals in my father's darkroom as a kid in the 1950's; pyro included, of course.

Greater concern has occupied my mind since my father was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 1990,and died less than a decade later. He was a close friend of Edward's, took Edward on his last road trip to Death Valley in 1948, and learned the magic of pyro from Edward. There may be a connection, and you were wise to heed your mother's warning.

Merg

 

[StepheKoontz]

Thank you.

Yes, the pyro Parkinsons connection has long been a concern. It has, in fact, been my concern since I started mixing chemicals in my father's darkroom as a kid in the 1950's; pyro included, of course.

Greater concern has occupied my mind since my father was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 1990,and died less than a decade later. He was a close friend of Edward's, took Edward on his last road trip to Death Valley in 1948, and learned the magic of pyro from Edward. There may be a connection, and you were wise to heed your mother's warning.

Merg

That stuff might be "Magic" but I don't love photography enough to risk my health over it. I have zero interest in working with Pyro.

 

[Merg Ross]

Thank you very well done. If you like E.W. The DVD Eloquent Nude is excellent, all about E.W. photographic live with an interview from Charis Wilson.

Thanks for suggesting this. I agree, Eloquent Nude is well done. I was at the initial screening in San Francisco with her daughter and Ron Partridge. Charis joined us over a glass of wine after the screening. The film captured the essence of her relationship with Edward.

 

[David Brown]

I stayed a few days on Wildcat Hill a few years ago. “And you can, too.” Kim and Gina Weston rent out Bodie House on the property. Kim is happy to show guests Edward’s darkroom. If you really want to get Kim engaged, however, talk about Brett!

Seriously, it was a pilgrimage for me, as it has been for many other photographers. Point Lobos as well, is all part of the experience.

 

[jtk]

The clue to pyro poisoning is black fingernails. EW had them.

 

[AgX]

A clue, but not proof of a poisoning. Even more I could not find academic evidence of a relation between pyrogallol and Parkinson disease. To my understanding all we got are some reports of photographers having dealt with pyrogallol who later have evolved Parkinson disease.

 

[Merg Ross]

The clue to pyro poisoning is black fingernails. EW had them.

More so from Amidol. Brett Weston displayed black fingernails from printing with Amidol. He ceased using Amidol when he learned that it was a carcinogen. Gloves and tongs are good practice.

 

[Merg Ross]

A clue, but not proof of a poisoning. Even more I could not find academic evidence of a relation between pyrogallol and Parkinson disease. To my understanding all we got are some reports of photographers having dealt with pyrogallol who later have evolved Parkinson disease.

That has also been my understanding.

 

[Sirius Glass]

There is a reason that Photographers' Formulary and Bostick and Sullivan include instructions to use pyro with gloves.

 

[jtk]

There is a reason that Photographers' Formulary and Bostick and Sullivan include instructions to use pyro with gloves.

Yes. That doesn't eliminate the sort of risk that has been well known since long before those dealers.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes. That doesn't eliminate the sort of risk that has been well known since long before those dealers.

Ah, but here is the most important key note: I did not start using pyro until this year. <<wink, wink>> The rest is commentary.

 

[warden]

"Stieglitz once and for all settled the question, 'Is photography art?' Today that question is no longer debated."

It's funny to hear that voice from the 1940s, which couldn't have predicted the great debate machine that is the internet.