Al Weber
Photographer, Teacher

1930-2016

“I try to make a successful photograph of a common or oft seen subject- to bring forward the common, and make it uncommon with grace and simplicity and good craft. I’ve been photographing from the air since the 1950’s. I enjoy flying in a small airplane. I’m comfortable photographing through an open window or even with the door removed 1000 feet above the ground, at 125 mph. I prefer older planes as they fly slower. Many of these photographs were made from a 1946 Aeronca cruising at 65 mph..”

-from an interview for the Center for Photographic Art. Carmel.

Al Weber can best be characterized by a series of seeming dualities: Icon and iconoclast. Abrasive and refined. Informal and serious. Artist and technician. Educator and perennial student. Tough critic, generous confidence builder and champion of other photographers’ images.

Center for Photographic Art. Carmel.

Al Weber. © RR Jones. All rights reserved

The Lumière Gallery in Atlanta features this biography:

Al Weber was born in Denver Colorado in 1930. He received an A.A. in photography and a B.A. in Eduction from the University of Denver and served as a Captain in the Marines during the Korean Conflict. After his military service he moved to the Monterey Peninsula and established himself as a commercial photograph. Weber’s career spans six decades. He is internationally recognized for the breadth of his work and contributions as a teacher and mentor. Weber’s images have been shown in over 200 exhibitions. An accomplished commercial photographer, his commissions include work for Time-Life, Fortune and Holiday magazines. Corporate clients include Dupont, Kaiser, International Harvester, Eastman Kodak, Polaroid and Hasselblad. His photographs are in the permanent collections of The Art Institute of Chicago, M. H. de Young Museum, UCLA, Utah Museum of Fine Arts and the Ansel Adams Collection.

Chronology (needs to be made accurate)

  • Born in Denver Colorado 1930
  • College degree in Photography and Education
  • Photo Apprentice
  • Marine Corps Captain in Korea
  • Moves to Carmel Penninsula 1955
  • Starts commercial work, with much aerial work
  • Helps lead Ansel Adams Workshops in Yosemite 1963-1981
  • Starts Photo Program at Monterey Penninsula College 1961-1969
  • Friends of Photography Workshop Program 1970-1977
  • Begins his own workshop Program
  • Taught with the University of California Extension Santa Cruz 1972-1987
  • Lectures in photo workshop and colleges around the country
  • Founds Victor School on Pikes Peak in Colorado 1977-2007
  • Rock Art work circa 1979
  • Finish Architecture Work
  • The Mission Portfolios
  • Foundation for Photographic Preservation (FfPP) started
  • Advice for Photographers book
  • Aerial Photography exhibition at Center for Photographic Art with Catalog

 

About this website:

I am working with the family to produce this webpage and we are actively gathering material for this site and Al's archives. Please be in touch if you can contribute recollections, photographs of Al and other information.

Pictures of Al with Family, Friends and Students


Al with Ralph Putzker photo: Mark Citret


photo: Mark Citret

Al with Ansel Adams, photo:Dick Cobb

Al with Jerry Uelsmann
photo
: Rex Naden

Al with Ralph Putzker. c1978

   

(we will be adding captions. please send more photos)


Al Weber Photographs

(we intend to add galleries here)

Al Weber on Video

(please send more video links)

Al Weber Audio


Photographs of Al

photo by Mark Citret

photo by Jim Ginney

photo by Lilliann de Cock

photo by Lilliann de Cock

1950s
photo by Brooke Elgie
photo by Stephen Johnson

 

(please send more photos of Al to make galleires)


Al Weber Books

Advice for Photographers: The Next Step

Based on decades of teaching, A Webercollected and organized ideas and suggestions to aid those who would be photographers. A 72-page field manual.

Aerial Photographs. Catalog of Center for Photographic Art Exhibition.

Links

Al's self-penned Obituary in the Monterey Herald. Written in 2011.

2001-2009 Al Weber Newsletters on line

Some stills from a class visit in 2009 by Robert Caughron and an audio recording from that same visit by journalist Brian Barger.

CPA Interview

CPA Aerial Show

Bio and Interview Excerpt

The Foundation for Photographic Preservation

 

Al Weber at Rendezvous 2013

Bio and Interview Excerpt

Al Weber Previews his Retrospective

Al Weber Remarks to Audience. Reno, NV 2011.

Al Weber about his work

 

 


Recollections

from Stephen Johnson

(please give us a link to your thoughts, our write something and we will add it)

 


Website by Stephen Johnson. Please contact Stephen Johnson at info@sjphoto.com for contributions of material.
Al's Photographs Copyright ©2022 by Al Weber. All Rights Reserved worldwide.
April 11, 2023