I gravitated towards discussing this shot by Edward Weston today because of how unique I believe it to be. This image is in black and white and the subject, the pepper, is taking up the entirety of the frame. The lighting originates from somewhere beyond the upper right of the photograph. We know this because the ridges of the pepper are highlighted harshly, showing us the brightest white in the entire picture and just beyond them the darkest shadows. The cropping of the pepper allows us to focus completely on it, yet the ridges of the pepper disappear towards the top and out of view, creating some mystery behind how large, small, or complex this pepper may be. Another aspect I like here is the forefront of the picture, where we realize the pepper rests in or on some rounded bowl. I think it helps ground the image and shows us that the top of the pepper, where the stem is, is facing front. The dramatic studio lighting is what makes this pepper an elevated shot instead of just a basic vegetable.
Weston, Edward. “Pepper No. 35.” The Met, 1930, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/286226.
Good observations! The lighting is dramatic and you have noted the highlights and shadows and how they contribute to the composition.