Ask a Weston

[Kim Weston]

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.

Sailing is not so much in the family anymore but being on the water is. We have a fishing boat that we take out in The Monterey Bay. I did a ton of sailing in my younger years but having a sailboat is a pretty costly endeavor over time. We love our little Arima boat! Once I got back from Tahiti that is when I started to take photography more seriously. When I was aboard I didn't do much photo. That sounds like a great plan and I hope your sailboat idea is a successful one. It can definitely be rewarding.

 

[Kim Weston]

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.

Everyone is going to view the human form differently. I think clothed models, if done right, can be quite pleasing to the eye. The reason for the nude figure is the simplicity. It takes the distraction of clothing, personal accessories, and throws them out the window. Makes the viewer focus solely on the human form. It is what I have been drawn to. I do use fabrics in my shots though as well! I hope you keep photographing what is pleasing to your eye. Nothing new to photograph these days, just different interpretations.

 

[winger]

Wow, it's great to have you here! I don't have any questions, just appreciation for the images you and your family have shared with the world.

Thank you!

 

[mrosenlof]

Thank you for the response on nudes. Something to think about. Edward was one of the best in that genre.

 

[Mr Bill]

Also thanks

 

[awty]

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

Thanks Kim, I like rudimentary, some things are over thought, should rely more on our instinct..

 

[Kim Weston]

Thank you for the response on nudes. Something to think about. Edward was one of the best in that genre.

Truly was! He had a gift of making simple things extraordinary !

 

[Kim Weston]

Wow, it's great to have you here! I don't have any questions, just appreciation for the images you and your family have shared with the world.

Thank you!

Thank you for the note!

 

[juan]

How many cats now live at Wildcat Hill?

 

[Kim Weston]

How many cats now live at Wildcat Hill?

Hey Juan! We only have one cat right now. Her name is Charis
My son has an instagram that documents a lot of the cat activity here on Wildcat Hill
@zachscats

 

[juan]

One of my favorite Edward photos is a nice landscape taken from the hill above the house. Then you realize Charis (the woman, not the cat) is sitting on the roof, and you look closer and see two cats also on the roof looking right at the camera.

 

[Kim Weston]

One of my favorite Edward photos is a nice landscape taken from the hill above the house. Then you realize Charis (the woman, not the cat) is sitting on the roof, and you look closer and see two cats also on the roof looking right at the camera.

That is a classic image! A pretty rare one - not one of his "biggies" It is taken at Wildcat up behind the property

 

[CMoore]

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 View attachment 283595

I was wondering if Edward or Ansel ever mentioned HCB and his "Pictures of rocks and trees" comment.?
Thank You

 

[glbeas]

Do you feel the Weston photographers have an overall style due to being raised immersed in Edwards photos? How would you say yours and other family photographers differ in their style from Edwards?

 

[Kim Weston]

Do you feel the Weston photographers have an overall style due to being raised immersed in Edwards photos? How would you say yours and other family photographers differ in their style from Edwards?

I think the styles of each generation are both similar and different. I think when looking at each photographer's work, you can notice the difference in style and approach. Brett was a master at the abstract, I focus on elaborate set building and story telling, while my son does a combination of all! But I do think there is definitely influence from Edward, if anything the simple approach to creating a beautiful photograph.

 

[Kim Weston]

I was wondering if Edward or Ansel ever mentioned HCB and his "Pictures of rocks and trees" comment.?
Thank You

Can you elaborate on HCB?

 

[CMoore]

Can you elaborate on HCB?

Yeah.....Sorry
His very famous Quote...Comment...Observation

“The world is falling to pieces and all Adams and Weston photograph is rocks and trees”
— Henri Cartier-Bresson

 

[markjwyatt]

Can you elaborate on HCB?

"The world is falling to pieces and all Adams and [Edward] Weston photograph is rocks and trees."
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/artblog/2008/feb/19/wildaboutanseladams

For the record, I like taking pictures of rocks and trees also.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yeah.....Sorry
His very famous Quote...Comment...Observation

“The world is falling to pieces and all Adams and Weston photograph is rocks and trees”
— Henri Cartier-Bresson

Ansel Adams did take a slightly political approach after all he was an early environmentalist, and his work showing the plight of imprisoned US citizens of Japanese-American heritage during WWII was important as well.

Ian

 

[Don_ih]

his work showing the plight of imprisoned US citizens of Japanese-American heritage during WWII was important as well

A bit of a Hallmark Greeting Card version, though.

 

[Kim Weston]

Yeah.....Sorry
His very famous Quote...Comment...Observation

“The world is falling to pieces and all Adams and Weston photograph is rocks and trees”
— Henri Cartier-Bresson

Ah, Ok! There really wasn't any mention of that particular quote. Edward took photographs for himself, not for anyone else so I would assume that would not affect him. He photographed what interested him and he enjoyed what he did!

 

[CMoore]

Ah, Ok! There really wasn't any mention of that particular quote. Edward took photographs for himself, not for anyone else so I would assume that would not affect him. He photographed what interested him and he enjoyed what he did!

That is the best reason..............except for money of course.

That quote from Bresson has been Printed and Repeated a Billion times. But i still have no idea of the context. I assume it was an interview at some point.
I have no idea if (when he was quoted) it died on the vine and by the time Edward or Ansel would have heard it, it might have been many years old.
I can imagine that being a photographer, in Europe in the 1930's and 1940's was a much different experience than a guy in California circa 1940.
The world WAS falling apart for those poor people.

Anyway............thanks for the reply.

I watch a few videos by Will Agar. He is a BIG fan of your.........Brother, Father.?......Brett.
Not sure where you are in the Weston line of photographers.
Will frequently talks about the way Brett Weston did one thing or another.

Thanks Again

 

[DonW]

Edward Weston has been my main inspiration for the past almost 60 years. A true artist.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Edward Weston has been my main inspiration for the past almost 60 years. A true artist.

For me as well, but maybe for 30 years?

 

[awty]

Ah, Ok! There really wasn't any mention of that particular quote. Edward took photographs for himself, not for anyone else so I would assume that would not affect him. He photographed what interested him and he enjoyed what he did!

Great advice