Desert Landscape, Monument Valley

In contrast to his tightly cropped formal studies, many of Weston’s landscapes instead present sweeping vistas. Despite this difference in scale and viewpoint, the bold contrasts and deep shadows of the landscapes provide continuity with Weston’s more abstracted compositions.

The variety of landscapes photographed by Weston reflects the breadth of his travels. In 1947, Weston received funding from the Eastman Kodak Company to photograph along the East and West coasts, providing him an opportunity to capture climates ranging from forest to desert. Without access to a darkroom on the road, Weston sealed off the windows of his car to process film in the back seat. Subsequent travels took him to Japan, Alaska, and various locations across Europe and Latin America. Weston spent his last years in Hawaii, where he was inspired by yet another type of landscape.