Weston, Edward (1886-1958), was an American photographer. He produced dramatic pictures of people, landscapes, and such simple objects as sea shells, seaweed, and rocks. Many of Weston’s photographs emphasize the forms and textures of objects and scenes from nature.
Weston was born on March 24, 1886, in Highland Park, Illinois. Early in his career, he won many awards for his photographs in the hazy, out-of-focus style that had become popular in the late 1800’s. In the 1920’s, however, Weston adopted the technique of straight photography, a style featuring focused, detailed photographs that portray subjects simply and directly. In 1932, he helped form a group of progressive photographers who promoted straight photography.
In 1937, Weston became the first photographer to win a Guggenheim Fellowship. The award is a grant given to scholars, scientists, and artists to advance their work. Weston died on Jan. 1, 1958.
