It took Edward Weston 29 prior attempts to get to the point where he made his well-known “Pepper #30” photograph. Musicians have to practice their scales, and so do photographers, trying a variety of attempts at conveying the essence of their subjects before hitting on the one that works the best. Weston’s strategy of looking at the three-dimensional world in a two-dimensional image is explored with Pepper #30 and Head-Down Nude.

Pepper #30, 1930
by Edward Weston

Head Down Nude, 1936
by Edward Weston