Gary Saretzky Photo Books
Weston, Edward. "Edward Weston - Master of Simplicity," in Popular Photography, June 1938.
Weston, Edward. "Edward Weston - Master of Simplicity," in Popular Photography, June 1938.
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Article on pages 11-12, 94-95, with five photographs by and of the master photographer. Complete issue, 98 pages. Other articles about photographers Ivan Dmitri, Whitey Schafer, Stephen and Helene Deutch, et al. Good with wear to covers and spine, erased penciled numbers on rear cover, interior unmarked. Summary:
Popular Photography, June 1938 (Volume 2, No. 6), published during the golden age of American print magazines, is a vital historical issue. It captures a moment when photography was exploding as both a mass-consumer hobby and a highly respected fine art, anchored by a profile on one of the medium's greatest purists.
The Cover Feature: "Edward Weston – Master of Simplicity"
The undisputed highlight of this issue is an intimate profile of Edward Weston, who had recently become the first photographer to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship.
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The Philosophy of Directness: The article breaks down Weston's fierce rejection of the pictorialist, soft-focus styles that dominated the early 20th century. It explores his dedication to "straight photography"—using sharp focus, maximum depth of field, and pre-visualization to capture the absolute essence of his subjects.
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The Tools: Readers are given a look at Weston's famously minimalist gear. Operating with a large 8x10 view camera, basic lenses, and natural light, Weston demonstrates that masterful photography relies on the artist's vision rather than expensive, complicated gadgets. The piece is illustrated with his iconic, sharply detailed textures of landscapes, nudes, and organic forms.
Other Major Profiles and Artistic Features
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Ivan Dmitri (Levon West): The issue features the work of Ivan Dmitri, a pioneer in the burgeoning field of color photography. Originally a celebrated master etcher under his birth name Levon West, Dmitri was instrumental in proving that the newly introduced Kodachrome film could be used for high-end editorial and commercial art.
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Whitey Schafer (A.L. "Whitey" Schafer): Representing the glitz of the West Coast, this article looks at Schafer, a premier Columbia Pictures Hollywood glamour photographer. The piece provides technical and directional insights into how Schafer used dramatic, controlled studio lighting to sculpt the faces of movie stars, creating the flawless, larger-than-life portraits that defined 1930s cinema.
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Stephen and Helene Deutch: The magazine highlights this talented husband-and-wife photography team, celebrated for their innovative commercial, illustrative, and humanistic documentary work. The article examines their collaborative process and how they brought a sophisticated, European-influenced design sensibility to American advertising.
Technical and Amateur Features
True to the Popular Photography mission of educating the everyday enthusiast, the June 1938 issue is packed with practical, mid-century advice:
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The "How-To" Columns: Features include guides on mastering darkroom chemistry, constructing home-made gadgets, and tips for shooting out in the bright summer sun.
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The Prize Pictures: A regular showcase displaying the winners of the magazine's amateur photography contests, complete with the technical data (aperture, shutter speed, film stock) used to capture each image.
Significance
The June 1938 issue of Popular Photography acts as a perfect cultural ledger. By placing the uncompromising, fine-art purism of Edward Weston alongside the commercial color innovations of Ivan Dmitri and the commercial gloss of Whitey Schafer, the magazine beautifully illustrated that photography in the late 1930s was expanding in every direction at once.
