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A review by iimacadam
Edward Weston: Masters of Photography Series by Edward Weston
3.0
My review applies to the first edition hardcover from 1988.
This is a good-not-great basic intro to Edward Weston. It is probably not the most enjoyable of the Aperture Masters of Photography Series books I've read (even though EW is my favorite), but it is likely the easiest read, with text that gives a general overview of Weston's life without getting into either technical details or opaquely erudite artistic analysis. Another way to say it is that this omits much of what those already familiar might find interesting, but it's an approachable introduction for the unfamiliar.
The photo reproductions strike me as quite good, though my direct comparison has been limited to examining its Salinas barn photo against the version on the dustjacket of the California and the West 1978 edition. The photo selection I feel a little less enthusiastic about. This includes a number of his most famous shots and a sampling from most of his career, but, considering this is a beginner overview, it seemed like a lot of his best was left out, and some of what was included seems a little random. The total effect of this book feels less impressive than it could be, and I'm glad my introduction to him was instead through Flame of Recognition.
I'm also bothered by some rather egregious sloppiness in the creation of this book, though likely some of my complaints were fixed in later editions.
Edward's sister is introduced simply as May, when her name was Mary "May."
In the section on Edward's activities during the 1910s, in brief reference to the woman of greatest influence during this time, the book says "Her name was Margaret Mather." Except that wasn't her name. It was Margrethe, which she changed it to from Emma Youngreen. That's a disrespectful level of disregard and carelessness.
The listing of photo plates says Ton House instead of Tor House, and China Grove instead of China Cove.
The plate on page 47 is said to be "Dante's View, 1938," which surprised me because I didn't recall seeing that image when I went through the book. When I double checked, the image in question is similar in appearance to EW's 1937 Guggenheim shot from Dante's, but it's of a river, with sandy islands covered in trees and greenery, including what appears to be some pines. Dante's View is of the salt beds on the floor of Death Valley, and I'm unable to find any photo suggesting lush greenery can be found from that view (it was, after all, used as the location for the distant view of Mos Eisley), so I think this one was a mixup.
And the timeline misleadingly says Edward, Tina, and Chandler lived in Mexico City from 1923 to 1926, before correcting and contradicting itself by noting that most of 1925 was spent in California, before returning to Mexico without Chandler.
When such a small book has so many very basic errors, which could have been spotted by the most cursory fact check or look-over by someone familiar with the subject, I have to wonder what inaccuracies I didn't spot and how much the author can be trusted with any of the details. It makes the reading of this book feel like a bit of a waste of time.
In the end, I want to give this four stars for being... basically ok and a highly accessible Weston introduction... but can't justify more than three. It's still a good book and a decent quick intro, but it's just too careless, too lazy, and too unimpressive. If you're collecting the Masters of Photography series, certainly go ahead and get it, it's fine. If you're looking for a cheap and quick introduction to Edward Weston, start with Flame of Recognition instead.
This is a good-not-great basic intro to Edward Weston. It is probably not the most enjoyable of the Aperture Masters of Photography Series books I've read (even though EW is my favorite), but it is likely the easiest read, with text that gives a general overview of Weston's life without getting into either technical details or opaquely erudite artistic analysis. Another way to say it is that this omits much of what those already familiar might find interesting, but it's an approachable introduction for the unfamiliar.
The photo reproductions strike me as quite good, though my direct comparison has been limited to examining its Salinas barn photo against the version on the dustjacket of the California and the West 1978 edition. The photo selection I feel a little less enthusiastic about. This includes a number of his most famous shots and a sampling from most of his career, but, considering this is a beginner overview, it seemed like a lot of his best was left out, and some of what was included seems a little random. The total effect of this book feels less impressive than it could be, and I'm glad my introduction to him was instead through Flame of Recognition.
I'm also bothered by some rather egregious sloppiness in the creation of this book, though likely some of my complaints were fixed in later editions.
Edward's sister is introduced simply as May, when her name was Mary "May."
In the section on Edward's activities during the 1910s, in brief reference to the woman of greatest influence during this time, the book says "Her name was Margaret Mather." Except that wasn't her name. It was Margrethe, which she changed it to from Emma Youngreen. That's a disrespectful level of disregard and carelessness.
The listing of photo plates says Ton House instead of Tor House, and China Grove instead of China Cove.
The plate on page 47 is said to be "Dante's View, 1938," which surprised me because I didn't recall seeing that image when I went through the book. When I double checked, the image in question is similar in appearance to EW's 1937 Guggenheim shot from Dante's, but it's of a river, with sandy islands covered in trees and greenery, including what appears to be some pines. Dante's View is of the salt beds on the floor of Death Valley, and I'm unable to find any photo suggesting lush greenery can be found from that view (it was, after all, used as the location for the distant view of Mos Eisley), so I think this one was a mixup.
And the timeline misleadingly says Edward, Tina, and Chandler lived in Mexico City from 1923 to 1926, before correcting and contradicting itself by noting that most of 1925 was spent in California, before returning to Mexico without Chandler.
When such a small book has so many very basic errors, which could have been spotted by the most cursory fact check or look-over by someone familiar with the subject, I have to wonder what inaccuracies I didn't spot and how much the author can be trusted with any of the details. It makes the reading of this book feel like a bit of a waste of time.
In the end, I want to give this four stars for being... basically ok and a highly accessible Weston introduction... but can't justify more than three. It's still a good book and a decent quick intro, but it's just too careless, too lazy, and too unimpressive. If you're collecting the Masters of Photography series, certainly go ahead and get it, it's fine. If you're looking for a cheap and quick introduction to Edward Weston, start with Flame of Recognition instead.