How many peppers?

[Bill_1856]

How many peppers did Edward Weston shoot and print?

[phaedrus]

At least 30.

[David A. Goldfarb]

E.W. Exposure log

Peppers

1. "Damn! forgot to pull the darkslide."
2. "Filmholder not seated properly."
3. "Lens not stopped down."
4. "Kicked the durn tripod!"
5. "Perfect shot. Scratched neg."
6. "Pyro dead."
7. "Overexposed. Lost count around 27 Mississippi,"
8. "Soft. Forgot to lock focus knob."
9. "See 10."
10. "Pulled wrong darkslide."
11. "Blurred. Cat became interested in pepper."
12. "Light leak."
13. "Film loaded upside down."
14. ...

[Merg Ross]

Of his most famous, Pepper #30, he made fifty prints. Each was numbered accordingly in the edition.

[Bill_1856]

So nobody really knows how many?

[Merg Ross]

Some peppers he ate, and never photographed. There were some that he photographed and were eaten later. Brett claims to have eaten Pepper #30, although Cole disagreed. Pepper #30 was not the thirtieth pepper that Edward photographed. It was so numbered as part of a series.

[domenico Foschi]

Weston, notorious for being an avid avocado eater, stuffed pepper # 30 with guacamole and put it whole in its mouth, after roasting it.

He then claimed that the heavy meal caused him some nightmares where the pepper was accusing Weston of a quasi cannibalistic act.
It is said that it was because of this reason that he then switched to cabbage.
But then even with cabbage he eventually had recurring dreams of the vegetables rolling behind him trying to flatten him to the ground.
True story.

[Gary L. Quay]

You know, this is getting downright silly. Keep it up.

--Gary

[domenico Foschi]

Better than politics, uh?!

[Gary L. Quay]

Better than politics, uh?!

Unless cream pies are involved.

--Gary

[Geert]

this was definitely NOT shot by Weston in any way:

[Merg Ross]

Weston first photographed a pepper in 1927 (atop a milk bottle). In 1929 he made 26 negatives of peppers and in 1930 he made 17 negatives. There are at least 25 known prints of Pepper #30, although the edition of 50 indicates a higher number. Perhaps the edition was not sequentially numbered or, in fact, 50 prints were actually made.

[Bill_1856]

Thanks, Merg.

[Merg Ross]

Bill, you are welcome. I tried my best to answer your question as factually as possible. Beyond what I posted, the rest would be conjecture. Your question did give me pause to consider how many persons are alive who knew Edward and his sons. Five come immediately to mind: Charis, Dody, Ron Partridge, Ira Latour and Erica. Make that six, myself. There are others, but I am not in touch with them.

[paulr]

The lesson here is to assign random numbers to all your images. Instead of "Red Barn," call it "Red Barn #17."

Eighty years from now it will give people something to talk about!

[Bill_1856]

Of his most famous, Pepper #30, he made fifty prints. Each was numbered accordingly in the edition.

Merg, did he print (and sign) fifty himself, or is this including project prints byBrett?

[Merg Ross]

Merg, did he print (and sign) fifty himself, or is this including project prints byBrett?

Bill,the fifty that I referred to were printed by Edward. However, only approximately twenty-five of the edition have been accounted for, last I heard; perhaps all fifty were never in circulation. The one that I am most familiar with is 30/50, with full signature.

The prints by Cole and Project Prints by Brett are another matter.

[Bill_1856]

Thanks, Merg. (Curiosity killed a cat....)

[Merg Ross]

Time to add another pepper. Made the year Edward Weston died.

Halved Pepper, 1958

8x10 Agfa/Ansco, 12" TR, Isopan

[Torontoamateur]

Edward Loved Avacados best