Brett and Edward Weston

[doughowk]

There are some exchanges of letters between Brett & Ansel in Ansel Adams: Letters and Images, 1916-1984, primarily about Ed Weston's deteriorating health. There are other letters by Ansel, such as to Alfred Stieglitz, promoting Brett's work. Ansel & Brett may have liked to exchange quips & gibes; but don't sense any animosity there. Which is good since they both are such inspiring photographers/individuals.

[Merg Ross]

I've read about the beaker comment and was just wondering if he used any Panatomic-X or other in roll, but it's not important. What are you using these days for 120, have you refined out the Rollie Pan 25 for you personal work? I think your work is excellent, having seen some examples on the the site and in publications, are you under exposed in the public arena as to work shown?

Seeing the Japan portfolio I was mentally taken back to the time I spent there in the 1970's. This portfolio in its entirety captures the "feel" of the country. Just one more example of the genius of Brett Weston.


Regards,
Curt

Yes, I believe Pan-X and and the early ORWO/Agfa slow film. Do not use my comments as an authority, because we seldom engaged in technical talk.

OT, but I mostly use slow Ilford film with the Rollei 66. Thanks for the comments, my daughter is putting new work on my website in a few weeks.

Brett always wanted to make a trip to Japan, good to hear that he captured the "feel" of the country on his only visit. It was at a time when the Rollei was very new to him, and the 8x10 was giving way to the ease of the smaller camera; this is obvious in his choices for the Portfolio.

[mjs]

Hi Curt, questions are fine, however I have few answers when it comes to Brett's technique. It was seldom a topic of discussion for more than a few minutes. He was once asked about dilutions and responded that he had two beakers; one he filled with stock and the other he filled with water. So much for the fine points of his technique. Yes, he did use the Agfa Pan 25 and developed it in Rodinal, that I do know; reports are at 1:100.

Brett and I had different, yet similar, Army experiences. He was sent to truck driving school, until someone higher up realized that he was Edward Weston's son and might be better off in a photographic capacity. So, the strings were pulled, and Brett was sent to the Army Pictorial Center in NY. His CO was Arthur Rothstein, who was well aware of Brett and his father. It was while at the APC that Brett did his New York work with the permission of, and encouragement from, Rothstein.

Twenty years after Brett left the Army Pictorial Center, I was sent there on the day I completed infantry training in California. At that time (1964), the Army was starting to place personnel in areas reflecting their civilian skills. I was spared truck driving school, or worse fates.

That was about the time my step-father was finishing his Army service. He had been a tree surgeon (tree trimmer) in civilian life, so the Army made him a medic. He spent his Army service taking care of the base shrubbery and killing rattlesnakes somewhere in Texas!

Mike

[adyphot]

Brett explained to me more than once why he preferred Agfa films to Kodak's. Both brands were good, but he preferred Agfa because the box has a flap. Yes, you heard me right. You can put the exposed film back in and the flap closes down inside the end, whereas Kodak has straight end flaps that are just glued closed, and after you open the box, there's no flap there to reclose the box. You would need to carry some tape with you to reclose the Kodak boxes.

That's it.:)

Aaron Dygart,
Honolulu

[Merg Ross]

Brett explained to me more than once why he preferred Agfa films to Kodak's. Both brands were good, but he preferred Agfa because the box has a flap. Yes, you heard me right. You can put the exposed film back in and the flap closes down inside the end, whereas Kodak has straight end flaps that are just glued closed, and after you open the box, there's no flap there to reclose the box. You would need to carry some tape with you to reclose the Kodak boxes.

That's it.:)

Aaron Dygart,
Honolulu

Aaron, how wonderful that you have chimed in! Your writings of the days you spent photographing with Brett in Hawaii are marvelous. They fill in the years toward the end of his life that I missed, and you captured the real Brett.

I last saw him at his home in Carmel Valley, six months before he died, but called him on his 81st birthday in Hawaii. He died a month later.

[doughowk]

Aaron, is your article "The Cowboy Cop" available? Photo Techniques site doesn't have an archival service for past issues.

[adyphot]

Merg,
Thanks. I really enjoyed your work in that same magazine, I believe it was, and I appreciate the kind words. I've enjoyed reading your posts on this site, too. Brett spoke highly of you. Sorry we didn't meet in person over here.

doughowk,
The magazine just made a change in the last issue. It's now Photo technique (without the "s"). It doesn't look the same. I would expect to see past issues listed again on their web site in the near future, though. There is a possibility of those articles coming out with an added fourth article in a book by a different publisher. I expect to meet with the publisher in the near future, but I don't know if it's really going to happen yet. I'll keep you posted.

Aloha,
Aaron

[PVia]

Aaron, beautiful photographs on your site.

I'd also recommend to other APUGgers to check out the images of Brett Weston working in the field along with some wonderful recollections at http://www.mathiasphotoearth.com/. Click on Portfolios and then Brett Weston.

[PaulW128]

PVia;

Thank you for that link. Great images of Brett in the field

Best
Paul

[Andrew A.]

Aaron, beautiful photographs on your site.

I'd also recommend to other APUGgers to check out the images of Brett Weston working in the field along with some wonderful recollections at http://www.mathiasphotoearth.com/. Click on Portfolios and then Brett Weston.

thanks for the link!!....that last image looks like "snake time" in his home....snake time is now a new term for me - not necessarily a new activity ;)

[adyphot]

Thanks, PVia and Andrew A. for the kind words about my site. It's very new, and photographs are being added at least weekly. I'm glad you found it and the link to Mathias's site.

Mathias brought Brett to Hawaii for the first time and I helped him put together the "Brett Weston Visual Retreat." People who were there still remember it and really seemed to enjoy it.

You should also check out Mathias's Mount St. Helens work. He and I were staying at my folk's place in Oregon when he made that treck with the scientists into the crater, and the new dome erupted while they were in there. They had to hide in an ice cave for awhile because there were some volkswagon sized rocks coming down. Mathias came back to the house covered with ash and grinning from ear to ear. Brett called him the "mad dutchman." When Brett broke his foot, Mathias came over to the big island and took care of him while he was on crutches. Even on crutches, though, Brett kept on photographing.

Aloha,
Aaron