“THE FIRST FAMILY OF AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY”
In 1981, Life Magazine called the Westons “The First Family of American Photography.” It started in 1903 when Edward Weston made his first photograph.
Edward was instrumental in legitimizing photography as an art form, and in 1921 coined the term “straight photography.” He was a founding member of the f64 group, and he was the first photographer to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship. His works have made a significant and lasting mark in photographic art.
All four of Edward’s sons, Chan, Brett, Neil and Cole tried their hands at photography, and Brett and Cole each made significant contributions to the Weston family oeuvre.
Photograph by Edward Weston
Photograph by Brett Weston
Brett became a very highly respected photographer. I’ve heard many say they feel he surpassed his father. I don’t like to get lost in comparisons, but his body of work is truly impressive.
Brett was a photographic prodigy. He was featured at the international exhibition at Film und Foto in Germany at age 17, and mounted his first one-man museum retrospective at age 21 at the De Young Museum in San Francisco in January, 1932.
Cole was the first to seriously take up color photography (although Edward did a small amount of fine work in color toward the end of his life). Cole also printed his father’s work for decades after Edward died.
In the third generation, Cole’s daughter Cara and his son Kim are both very active and fine photographers. If you haven’t seen their work it’s worth looking them up.
Photograph by Cole Weston
Photographer unknown, but I’m guessing my mother, Dorothy Weston
Born on Edward’s birthday, my dad was Chan’s only child, and spent many years in photography.
A member of the fourth generation of photographers in this family, I’m the youngest of four in my family, and again, each of us has made our own photographic efforts. My oldest brother, Ted, was killed in 2012 and was very active in photographing wherever he went, primarily in the western US and in Mexico.
My brother Scott has made some striking images through the years, and my sister Tina is also very engaged in her work, photographing throughout the US and Europe.
This photo includes Uncle Brett (in sunglasses, as always), my dad, and my brothers and sister and me. It was my first birthday, so I’m the one with the cake.