Edward Weston and California Photography

Photographers in California were among the most innovative during the mid-twentieth century. Prior to their ascent, photography was often not taken seriously as an art. Photographs frequently were soft focus images of landscapes and people. The Californians advocated sharp focus and used light in new and innovative ways.

One of the earliest and most important of the California photographers was Edward Weston. Longtime resident of the Monterey Peninsula, his images of Point Lobos, still lifes, and nudes are legendary. The Oakland Museum of California has mounted a small, but nice overview of Weston's work. This exhibit of 58 pictures spans Weston's career from his earliest soft-focus images of the 1920s to his last images taken at Point Lobos. The exhibit also contains a few photos by Weston's colleagues in Group f.64, California photographers who came together under this moniker to promote photo realism.

"Edward Weston:Masterworks from the Collection" runs through June 11, 2006. The Oakland Museum of California is located at 1000 Oak Street near downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt. The museum is one block from the Lake Merritt BART station. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.