Photographer William Wegman's Old Dogs Learn New Tricks

William Wegman shares a compilation of over three decades of portraits of his Weimaraner, beloved best friend, and artistic collaborator Man Ray and later on, Fay Ray. Being Human includes more than 300 photos that depict a closer look into the lens of Wegman's witty, humanist eye to his subjects.

Wegman began this artistic journey in anthropomorphizing his dogs in the 1970s. He was strongly influenced by Man Ray and his deadpan appearance. However, unlike Man Ray, Wegman juxtaposes the deadpan with vibrant colors and beautifully lit sets to capture his subjects. Wegman divides his body of work into 16 themed chapters, each chapter showcases a different layer of Wegman's thought process.

These gems represent Wegman's relationship with the surreal as he playfully comments on the characteristics that make us human. It has become second nature to capture the effortless and intriguing portraits in the worlds he has created. All images were captured on a Polariod 20x24 camera and developed in color.

170929-23195_Ionian-MED_RES_j1gjpo — lonian (2005)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

190929-05792_Dressed_for_Ball_1988_pxyhs7 — Dressed for Ball (1988)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

190929-36999_-_Lighting_Director_yk99a5 — Lighting Director (2002)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-05027_-_On_the_Way_gcau0n — On the Way (1995)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-20010830-427V1817_Oarsman_s8yakw — Oarsman (2001)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-p058_04030_Leopard_Zebra_1981_zixhjg — Leopard Zebra (1981)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-36109_Contact_2014_j83sa1 — Contact (2014)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-37945_Deal_w_the_Surreal_o8kp9g — The Deal with The Surreal
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-05452_-_Uphill_thwn2b — Uphill (1990)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-p061_36814_Perhaps_Religious_2004_snyjnp — Perhaps Religious (2004)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

170929-37243_Upside_Downward_2006_ridbbc — Upside Downward (2006)
William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-23195_Ionian-MED_RES_j1gjpo

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)190929-36999_-_Lighting_Director_yk99a5

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-20010830-427V1817_Oarsman_s8yakw

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-05452_-_Uphill_thwn2b

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-37945_Deal_w_the_Surreal_o8kp9g

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)190929-05792_Dressed_for_Ball_1988_pxyhs7

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-p315_34384_On_Base_2007_d2t8jq

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-36109_Contact_2014_j83sa1

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-37243_Upside_Downward_2006_ridbbc

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-p058_04030_Leopard_Zebra_1981_zixhjg

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-p061_36814_Perhaps_Religious_2004_snyjnp

170929-37918_-_What_To_Do_uklyuz

(William Wegman: Being Human, published by Chronicle Books 2017)170929-05027_-_On_the_Way_gcau0n

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William Wegman is currently exhibiting portraits from his Being Human series at Sperone Westwater.

For more information: click here

To purchase: click here

To view other bodies of Wegman's work: click here

Photographer William Wegman's Old Dogs Learn New Tricks

It's known that a dog is a man's best friend. William Wegman goes a step further and captures a picturesque side of humanity with the help of his Weimaraner, Man Ray.

Kelly Caminero