Marina.R
Titled: UNTITLED
Photographer: JERRY UELSMANN
Date: 1996
Jerry Uelsmann started his surreal photography in the 1960s. He is well known as “black and white alchemist”. He discovered his technique while studying in university. He introduced the idea of “post-visualization” in 1965. He used mainly traditional darkroom techniques; he uses several enlargers to combine different negatives film into a single picture by means of masking light and partial exposure, also using wonderful skills to create an artistic image out of photo montage in a hand-made ways. He tries to free photography from the shackles of “representation of the real world”. A quote by Jerry regarding his art works “I think of my photographs as being obviously symbolic, but not symbolically obvious.” [3]. My first impression on this photograph by Jerry Uelsmann was that it was fascinating. I didn’t expect him to create something so magical from just cutting negatives and putting them together. When I looked at this image from afar I thought there was a church behind the floating man but when I examined the photo closely I realized that there wasn’t a church but rather it was a bunch of trees formed together to create an illusion of a church or heavenly like structure. This photo gives a surreal and harmonious emotion when looked upon. My thought on this photo was that it was utterly beautiful because this reminded me on what I was looking for, a peaceful area to relax in. This photo was like capturing a scene from a dream that I would have had. I think he made this image by cutting the required negatives of the images and then put them together and then flipped the image to make it symmetrical. This photo looks like it was made completely out of trees/forests and then the man sitting in a yoga position. When looking at this photo you see towering of trees in ground view and the trees in the middle forming a heaven like structure that is brightened while the background is darker. The other trees on the side look like they have been moved to that certain angle as if giving room for the centered structure. The tree structure is symmetrical on both sides so it can be cut evenly. The man in the middle is sitting with a high posture in a yoga position. As if to announce that this is a holy and sacred place. The man is darkening probably to show that the tree structure is bright enough to cast a shadow upon the man. The shadow under the man signifies that the man is floating over the forest grounds. But what struck me wild was something I don’t know if the artist was intentionally trying to do…under the man I could see a dragon. Beside the man’s shadow there is a black circle like shape on each side of him. As if to show the eyes of the dragon and if you follow down in a triangle fashion you can see the dragons’ snout. Anyways I was mystified by the imagery used. The background is dark but from the sky comes a light that shines upon the centered trees and when the view is ground level it kind of gives a ‘welcome sign’ feel. Organic lines are used in the trees and when he angled the trees in an upward position so that we are forced to look up to the trees it gives us direction to look straight up. Value is used in this photo using both light and dark contrasting in the trees and throughout his photo. The hue is always black and white when Jerry works with his photographs. Texture is used in this photo, it has a rough look throughout but because of the lighting it gives it a warm soft glow. Space is used also from the man who is floating above the ground using shadow and distance between the shadow and the man, as well when separating the centered trees from the others surrounding it. Form is used in the picture it has depth using shadowing, sculpture and viewpoints. This photo has balance it is symmetrical and radical, the central point being the man because around him is light whereas he is dark himself. This also has dominance or emphasis because of the lighting being brighter than the surroundings. The light is focused in the middle showing that the structure formed trees are the center point with the man inside. This photo also has movement when it directs you to look up in the picture because of the trees. This photo also has contrast because it shows the tall trees surrounding the single small man in the center. I believe this photo has unity and harmony because he managed to blend all the negatives of the several other images and to create a single photo. This photo is well blended together as if he had taken the photo as it is now. I noticed that the artist used strictly materials of the forest and trees everything was natural straight from the forest. And that he choice to have a single man in a sitting crossed legged position to enhance the serenity of the photo. I was surprised in a good way that he chose the forest scenery instead of another location because it is like saying the only place to be realized in a heavenly fashion is by resting calmly in the forest made by mother nature. My attention was grabbed by the bright light and the many detailed trees to create another structure. I think the photograph is trying to show us about peace and that the forest is a place for harmony and protection because of how tall the trees are as well of the many branches each tree has. Jerry created a lot of unknown artworks without giving a certain description to them but he generalized all his photographs as dream like. When I found out that the artist tried to create an image that is freed by the restraints of the real world to create an idealistic world. When I found that out I was excited on how almost accurate he was. My thoughts do not change about this photo it makes it even more intriguing and I don’t interpret the picture any differently now either. I learned that these photos that Jerry created are not restrained but controlled to look realistic, in a dream like fashion, as much as possible and I wish to create those kinds of imagery myself.
Bibliography
[1] Uelsmann, Jerry. Untitled. Unknown; 1996
<http://www.shutterbug.net/techniques/pro_techniques/0907ueksmann/index1.html>
[2] Lee, Calvin. The exhibition Whispers of Blended Shadows: The Art of Jerry Uelsmann, Blogspot; Sunday, 8 February 2009
<http://calzmessdesk.blogspot.com/2009/04/another-great-afternoon-during-trip-in.html>
[3] Pailet Mann, Joshua. Jerry Uelsmann. A Gallery for fine arts; 1973 <http://www.agallery.com/pages/photographers/uelsmann.html>
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