Definitive Edward Weston Monograph or Collection?

Dan Rainer · Aug 30, 2024

I'm looking for a photobook or multi-volume set that provides the most definitive collection of Edward Weston's work. I'm thinking of something like Minor White: The Eye That Shapes or MOMA's The Work of Atget. Does anything like this exist? If not, what's the best way to study his work and oeuvre?

Bill Burk · Aug 30, 2024

Spend a few weekends volunteering to cleanup at Bixby Creek bridge and ask the people you run into if they knew him.

Alex Benjamin · Aug 30, 2024

I have Edward Weston: A Legacy, published by Merrell in 2003. 143 plates — not even close to being definitive (the Mexico years are absent, and there are very few photos of Charis), but still extensive, and the quality of the reproductions is absolutely stunning. Also includes some excellent essays.

Of course, you can't study Weston without diving into his Daybooks.

Alex Benjamin · Aug 30, 2024

You could also enquire at the Center for Creative Photography. They hold the Edward Weston archives.

Patrick Robert James · Aug 31, 2024

The most comprehensive book is the CCP book put out in the 90s, but all the images are just thumbnails. And it is pretty expensive as books go, though nowhere near as expensive as it used to be. I sold my copy years ago for twice what they go for now. I used to think I was stupid for selling it, but I guess I wasn't. I might buy it again. It is meant more for a reference book though.

Good bang for the buck is the Taschen/Pitts 1999 book. It is rather large and the printing is good.

The best printed one I've seen from what I can recall is Edward Weston: A Legacy.

Another decent one is the Last Years in Carmel. That can be had fairly cheaply, though I don't think it is as good as the Legacy one.

It is kind of a shame that there has never been a comprehensive book done on Weston. I've seen some massive tomes put out on some fairly meh photographers. CCP would be the one to do it. Maybe they are too concentrated on Adams. Could be a political thing.

Of course if you are interested in Weston you should read the Daybooks.

MarkS · Aug 31, 2024

Certainly the best book (so far) of Weston's work is "Life Work", published by Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee's Lodima Press. Out of print and very expensive.
@Patrick Robert James, the CCP does indeed hold Weston's archive. However the CCP is both underfunded and understaffed, and as far as I know, no one there is currently working on a Weston book. Perhaps some independent scholars are doing research.
There's certainly no "politics" involved there, beyond their parent organization, the University of Arizona, recently reporting a $172 million dollar deficit.

MTGseattle · Sep 1, 2024

I've got the Aperture paperback Edward Weston: Nudes. I think it does a decent job of covering his figure work and is budget friendly and plentiful on the used market. The Daybooks have been published as a 2-volume set and as a single volume. They are a pretty good synopsis. As for what else to add to your own shelf, I would try and get some titles at the library so you can see the printing quality and whether you want to source a particular title for yourself.

Nicholas Lindan · Sep 1, 2024

The book I have on my shelf is Forms of Passion - https://www.amazon.com/Edward-Westo...18506&sprefix=forms+of+passion,aps,595&sr=8-1

Patrick Robert James · Sep 1, 2024

MarkS said:
Certainly the best book (so far) of Weston's work is "Life Work", published by Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee's Lodima Press. Out of print and very expensive.
@Patrick Robert James, the CCP does indeed hold Weston's archive. However the CCP is both underfunded and understaffed, and as far as I know, no one there is currently working on a Weston book. Perhaps some independent scholars are doing research.
There's certainly no "politics" involved there, beyond their parent organization, the University of Arizona, recently reporting a $172 million dollar deficit.

Life Work is still available from Lodima.

By “politics” I meant what you illucidated. I think Adams is their star and they probably just don’t have the resources to do everything they want.

It seems to me as well that pre war photographers are slowly being forgotten by major institutions but I don’t have any data to back that up.

MarkS · Sep 2, 2024

Actually, I've found my copy of the CCP's book on Edward Weston.

"Edward Weston
One Hundred Twenty-five Photographs"
by Steve Crist
Photographs from the Edward Weston Archive at the Center for Creative Photography
"This is a limited edition of 2000 copies."
copyright 2011 by AMMO Books, LLC
ISBN: 9781934429570
Library of Congress control number 2011905609

It is a slipcased hardcover book, 14" square, with scrupulously accurate reproductions. One can hardly imagine a better representation of Weston's work. (I understand that "Life Work" draws from the private collection of a Weston relative, while the photographs in this book were selected from EW's complete archive.)
Both are surpassingly beautiful books; I missed a chance to purchase "Life Work" when it was first published and relatively affordable, so am lucky to have this one.

And the CCP does indeed move far afield from Ansel Adams (although he is a 'star' of the Center's holdings and one of the organization's founders). A quick look at their website will reveal that.

Patrick Robert James · Sep 4, 2024

Sounds like you have the limited edition one Mark. I wonder what the difference is besides money and slipcover? It looks like another publisher redid the same book too but someone on Amazon gave it a bad review. Wish I could see them in person. I'll have to try to find a CCP copy.

i bought a few Weston books in the last few days. Got a copy of Nudes because, why not? Very inexpensive. After Nicholas mentioned Forms of Passion I looked it up and got Deja Vu. I think I used to have it. I lost a big box of books moving years ago, which was of course all my favorite books. Can't afford most of them again unfortunately, but the Forms one is pretty cheap.

Pieter12 · Sep 4, 2024

Although not complete—I don’t think there is any figure work—“Edward Weston: A Legacy” is a very good book from the Huntington Library.

jeffreyg · Sep 4, 2024

I just checked my library list and found that I have thirteen different Edward Weston books including one of color photographs he dabbled in. I also have the original Edward Weston - Fifty Years before it was recalled because of issues of ownership of some of the images and then it was republished with substitute images

MarkS · Sep 6, 2024

As jefferyg has noted, there have been dozens of books of Weston's photographs... going back to "My Camera on Point Lobos", now a collector's item, and "California and the West', reprinted in many editions.

He created a great deal of important work, and changed his style several times, so to get it "all in one" is a daunting challenge for the author/historian. But they're not done with him yet; an excellent recent book is called "Edward Weston The Early Years", written by Karen E. Haas and Margaret Westling, and published by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 2018.

As you might guess, it is a detailed and sympathetic look at his pictorialist years, from his beginnings up until 1922. A valuable book- it was a pleasure to see this work given the serious attention it deserves.

And Patrick- the CCP edition I mentioned seems to be available through abebooks for around $50. Well worth it!

Dan Rainer · Sep 6, 2024

Thanks for all the helpful replies! I think I'll pick up a copy of "A Legacy" and maybe "The Early Years" afterwards. "Forms of Passion" also seems like a good deal. I own a copy of the Daybooks, but I really wanted a good collection of Weston photographs to accompany the read. Looking forward to deep-diving such a brilliant photographer.

jeffreyg · Sep 6, 2024

You might check out Photo Eye book store in Santa Fe. They specialize in photography books and I have been buying from them for very many years by phone or online. They sometimes have good sales

Pieter12 · Sep 6, 2024

MarkS said:
an excellent recent book is called "Edward Weston The Early Years", written by Karen E. Haas and Margaret Westling, and published by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 2018.

As you might guess, it is a detailed and sympathetic look at his pictorialist years, from his beginnings up until 1922. A valuable book- it was a pleasure to see this work given the serious attention it deserves.

I read that recently. Quite interesting. A bit of a warning--it is not a photo book, rather a well-researched book on Weston and Mather (and many others) up until he left for Mexico. I was not fully aware of all the events at that time in the history of Los Angeles and all the people he and Margarethe Mather were connected to.

jeffreyg · Sep 6, 2024

Out of curiosity I checked the Photo Eye site and they have around fifty EW books listed.

MarkS · Sep 12, 2024

This fascinating site was just mentioned on the LF Forum:
www.edwardwestonbibliography.blog/
Should be of interest to anyone following this thread.

Dan Rainer · Sep 19, 2024

Thanks for the great recommendations @MarkS and @jefferyg !

Edward Weston Bibliography is a fantastic resource. Tons of depth and solid research for a free blog.

Definitive Edward Weston Monograph or Collection?

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