Pure and Straight
Photography
This
is an image called “Shell”, 1927
by photographer Edward Weston. The object in the image is a shell, against a
black back ground. The shell itself is an obscure shape with many different
tonal areas, a highlight on the top of the shell and some darker areas towards
the bottom, which pick up on the texture.
There
are many ways in which this particular image depicts the visual information of
pure and straight photography. One
example, as mentioned, is the vast range of tonal colours. The key highlight
being on top of the shell and the other extreme being the darker area used to
back the shell. The distinct lines and textures that are shown on some areas of
the object were also used a lot in straight photography, showcasing the
strengths of a camera by offering a new detailed view of a shell. In addition
to this there is also quite a large depth of field, not just focusing on one
aspect of the item.
Edward
Weston was known the want to be able to illustrate his love for life through
his work, he felt he may be
able to do this by demonstrating nature truthfully.
“To clearly express my feeling for life
with photographic beauty, present objectively the texture, rhythm, form in
nature, without subterfuge or evasion in technique or spirit, to record the
quintessence of the object or element before my lens, rather than an
interpretation, a superficial phase, or passing mood—this is my way in
photography. It is not an easy way.”- Edward Weston (taken from minimalistphotography101.com)
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