“Shell” by Edward Weston

  1. List 3 things the photographer might have been interested in capturing in this picture?
  • the original and pure beauty of the shell
  • the contrast between the black background and the inner part of the shell
  • the monotone that makes the photograph more mysterious

2. If you were the photographer, what title would you give it? Explain why.

If I were the photographer, I would title it “Memories”. The pattern of the inner part of the shell makes me think of something going deep inside, which can also mean having lots of mindful memories that go to my brain, helping me remember those precious moments for a long time. Now, when we look at the general photo, the top left part of the shell, where the shell part starts, represents how memories get into our mind and get more detailed and deeper as they go further into the inside. The usage of color also includes some meanings, as the darker the part of the shell, the deeper it is, and the better the memory it has. To summarize, the photo shows “memories” as the shape and pattern of the shell reminds me of how we have many memories, but the most special moment eventually stays inside the shell, or our brain, letting us remember the memory longer.

3. Describe the use of line, shape, Pattern, texture, tone and focus – USE THE NOTES ABOVE AS A GUIDE. SOME EXAMPLES of WORK BELOW.

I believe the use of texture is masterfully expressed. The photo captures everything from the overall texture to the tiny detailed texture. Especially, the center of the shell is really well-described with the all the swirled texture , which makes the photograph more attractive. Also, the tone of the photograph really grabs the viewers focus as it directly shows the color contrast between the shell and the background. The use of tone is a great way to create depth and visual interest. The focus of the photograph really shows up, too. The clarity of the shell is incredible; it has a sharp and  clear focus, increasing the overall quality and completeness of the photograph. Also, the photographer represented the perfect round shape of the shell, having an outstanding focus and increasing even more engagement.

 

 

Work Cited:

Weston, Edward “Shell” photograph. Dragon’s Exchange, ISB, 15th August 2025. https://dx.isb.cn/dash/#/classroom/945836/sections/lesson/958329/page/958333, Accessed 15th August 2025.