“Abstract photography can be defined as capturing images in which the subject isn’t the most interesting element. Albert Renger-Patzsch, Edward Weston and Aaron Siskind photographed the ordinary to reveal their beauty. Uta Barth reversed the typical use of the camera, shooting out of focus and Andreas Gursky photographs the repetition of elements. During this unit you will investigate appropriate examples of abstract photography and respond in your own way..”
“Shells and Rocks Arrangement” by Edward Weston
This example of an interesting photo was shot by Weston, known for his black-and-white object-based works that tried to show “still lives”. In this photo, highly influenced by the straight technique of photography, Weston continued to create an atmosphere consisting of a sharp focus on the subject he intended to show: the white shell, in this photograph.
Moreover, this product can also be explained using the different aspects of elements, including the six mentioned in a previous blog. All of these elements served as inspirations that helped Weston achieve this work and finish it.
For line, surprisingly, not much evidence was shown in this photograph as most of the objects inside are rounded. The only evidence that could be related to the lines is probably the split in the middle between the different layers of the black sand/rock in the back, showing vertical divisions with a sense of space.
For shape, as mentioned, there were many lines and objects providing a rounded, curvy feeling. Especially for the shell in the front, the outlined shape that served as a stage does look captivating as there are several edges when the white color minimizes its area into a triangle.
Repetition and pattern, on the other hand, are not shown quite much in this photograph as most of the objects (including the black sand/rock serving as the background) are irregular and unique from each other, meaning each one is different, no matter in size, shape, or texture.
In addition to texture, as I mentioned, we can see that the black part in the middle level (horizontally) seems to show a sense of a rocky and unsmooth feeling (for if we imagine touching or making contact with the surface); in contrast, the parts in the left and right bottom corners seems to have a smoother feeling and seems to be nice and slick to be touched. Finally, the shell in the middle shows a sense of clarity, and perhaps the slickest part can be found here, on the surface of the shell, within the entire photograph.
For value and tone, a brief description can be made of the white-colored shell as the lightest part, compared to ALL other parts in this photograph as they are all dark and black-colored. The value and tone in this work also work and match with the intention of focus the author wanted to show, for the audience to capture the white shell first as the main, targeted object, then notice the background of an interesting landform displayed in another color in contrast.
To concentrate the ideas for what Weston had considered as influences that helped him in achieving and finishing this work, there is the use of sharp focus and precise detail to emphasize the shell’s form and texture and the control of light and shadow to create a sense of depth. Weston also took influence from natural abstraction, turning realistic, everyday objects into sculptures with unrealistic qualities. His method, which rejects alteration and emphasizes the subject’s essential beauty through clarity, tonal contrast, and thoughtful composition, is in line with the Straight Photography Movement (as shown in this work, for the shell to be the primary target and display it uniquely for the audiences).
Works cited:
“File:Shell and Rock Arrangement, 1931.Jpg – Wikimedia Commons.” Wikimedia.org, 2024, commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shell_and_Rock_Arrangement,_1931.jpg. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
“Edward Weston.” The Art Story, 2016, www.theartstory.org/artist/weston-edward/#:~:text=Taking%20inspiration%20from%20his%20surroundings,him%20to%20well%2Ddeserved%20fame. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
“Edward Weston: His Life and Photographs.” Christies.com, Christie’s, 2024, www.christies.com/en/stories/edward-weston-guide-27f49c3a5bf54cb8a92c4a68f1ddf2ae#:~:text=Influenced%20by%20the%20simplicity%20of,marmoreal%20gleam%20recalled%20Classical%20sculpture. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.