Ask a Weston

[Kim Weston]

Hey!

Kim Weston here. Grandson of famed photographer Edward Weston and a fine art film photographer for over 50 years. Our family is rich in photographic history starting with Edward and continuing on with my son, Zach. I thought I would create this forum thread for anyone who has any questions about the Weston Family. I will do my best to answer them! Thank you

 

[radiant]

Who ate the .. cabbage?

I met Kirmo year ago (his Weston collection was on display) and he had some nice stories about from trips to your place.

 

[ic-racer]

How about a quick bio of your life in photography? Did you know your grandfather? How old were you when you saw his work? Did you get taught by your family or go to photography school?

 

[BrianShaw]

No questions… just a “thanks” for keeping your family’s legacy going!

And thanks for making this opportunity available!

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Thank you for the opportunity. Subscribed.

 

[Kim Weston]

Who ate the .. cabbage?

I met Kirmo year ago (his Weston collection was on display) and he had some nice stories about from trips to your place.

Haha! I wish I knew who ate the cabbage. I like to think Edward ate it after he photographed it!
How cool that you met Kirmo. He is a really dear friend. We hope to make it back out to Finland once restrictions loosen up

 

[Kim Weston]

No questions… just a “thanks” for keeping your family’s legacy going!

And thanks for making this opportunity available!

I appreciate the kind words! It is truly a family endeavor

 

[Kim Weston]

How about a quick bio of your life in photography? Did you know your grandfather? How old were you when you saw his work? Did you get taught by your family or go to photography school?

Hey!
I have one memory of my grandfather, Edward. My siblings and I visited Wildcat Hill with my dad, Cole and I must have been 5 years old. There was a man there, quite old at the time and moving slow. We called him G-pah. I remember he served us lunch of cottage cheese, avocado and olive oil. To a 5 year old this was the most disgusting thing I had ever seen. To this day it is one of my favorite dishes

I was surrounded by Edward's work for my whole life. My dad, Cole, did a ton of printing of his work during his lifetime. I grew up helping my dad in the darkroom and learned about my grandfather by seeing his negatives in the darkroom. I started photography when I was 6 years old and since then knew that it was what I wanted to do with my life. I was fortunate enough to learn the photographic process from my dad and my uncle Brett. I took photography in high school just for the easy "A"

You can learn more about our history and about all the weston photographers on our site. Thank you for your questions!
https://www.kimweston.com/kim-weston

 

[Kim Weston]

No questions… just a “thanks” for keeping your family’s legacy going!

And thanks for making this opportunity available!

Thank you for the note!

 

[Kim Weston]

Thank you for the opportunity. Subscribed.

Good to connect with you, Martin!

 

[Don_ih]

Finally! So the question is: pre-wet or not?

Now now - don't start a fight!

 

[mshchem]

My Grandmother put catsup on cottage cheese. Awful!

 

[Kim Weston]

Finally! So the question is: pre-wet or not?

Elaborate !

 

[Kim Weston]

My Grandmother put catsup on cottage cheese. Awful!

Wow! Never heard of that one before. Definitely an acquired taste

 

[mshchem]

Finally! So the question is: pre-wet or not?

Go ahead and elaborate . So funny. Pre wetting film probably seems daft to the uninitiated

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

What the hell is catsup? My uncle in England would always say, "the blinkin' cat's suppin' me bear again!"

 

[mshchem]

What the hell is catsup? My uncle in England would always say, "the blinkin' cat's suppin' me bear again!"

Heinz Ketchup. The stuff is horrible. Smells.
I remember my first visit to Amsterdam watching people put mayonnaise on french fries. Sorry Uncle, Chips!

 

[awty]

Hi Kim you have an impressive portfolio (is that the correct word?).
Especially like your hand painted pictures, they are very beautiful and a great use of colour. Would you be able to tell me what paints or tints you use. I have no experience with anything other than house paint.
Thanks.

 

[mrosenlof]

OK, my question on your body of work is why nudes? Yes it is one of the classic themes in painting. Part of the training in painting. But does that really transfer to photography in the 21st century?

I ask this as someone who has taken a workshop on the nude (and large format) within the last ten years. Most, but not all, of my favorites from that workshop were with clothed models. I'm interested to hear your take on this. After that workshop I kind of felt that the figure is a beautiful, fun subject, but I not sure I have anything new to say. I know in the US this can be a hotly debated subject (on a few levels), but here I'm really looking for the viewpoint of a participant in the art, not trying to start a debate.

thanks, and welcome to photrio.

 

[eddie]

I think we're lucky to have a member of the First Family of Photography participating here.

 

[Mr Bill]

Hi, thanks for the opportunity to ask questions.

I read online that you spent considerable time, in your teens, on your pop's (largish) sailboat. I'm curious as to whether or not sailing is still part of your family's activities or interests, or whatever. I imagine that photography was done during your trips (?), but I wonder about processing. Anything you care to say about this sort of thing would be appreciated.

I'm a landlubber, recently interested in liveaboard sailboats, which I'm seeing as a means of exploring. Not unlike traveling (and living) in an RV, with one major difference being that you don't have to pay for gas, highway tolls, etc. (And 30 to 40 year old sailboats can be surprisingly cheap, in the general cost range of a new car.) Fwiw I'm also a life-long photographer, albeit in a different realm, similar in age to you.

 

[juan]

Elaborate !

Whether one should presoak film before development is a rather frequent discussion here with diatribes, rants, and religious expositions.

 

[Kim Weston]

Hi Kim you have an impressive portfolio (is that the correct word?).
Especially like your hand painted pictures, they are very beautiful and a great use of colour. Would you be able to tell me what paints or tints you use. I have no experience with anything other than house paint.
Thanks.

Thank you! I use oils when I paint. I have never been trained as a painter so my technique is very rudimentary and self taught

 

[Kim Weston]

Whether one should presoak film before development is a rather frequent discussion here with diatribes, rants, and religious expositions.

Ah I see! I usually do a wash bath before I develop

 

[Kim Weston]

I think we're lucky to have a member of the First Family of Photography participating here.

I appreciate it!