A Constructed View: The Architectural Photography of Julius Shulman [Hardcover]

Joseph Rosa (Author), Julius Shulman (Photographer), Esther McCoy (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2008

Julius Shulman, one of the great master of architectural photography, is the preeminent recoreder of early California modernism. By 1927, when he was sixteen, Shulman was already using the family Brownie box camera to document his Southern Californis surroundings and experiences; in 1936, his professional career was launched when he sent Richard Neutra some uncommissioned photographs of the architect's Kun House. Shulman went on to document the famous Case Study House Program (architects included Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, and Eero Saarinen) and also the architecure of the 1930s through the 1980s, especially that of Southern California, but also country and worldwide. His subjects included the buildings of R.M. Schindler, John Lautner, Raphael Soriano, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Oscar Niemeyer, among many others. Through his work, Shulman defined the image of Los Angeles and framed the architecture of the time for a global audience. In addition to an overview of Shulman's career and photographic oevre, this book emphasizes Shulman's method of "constructing" photographic views. These contructions, which complemented his innate ability to compose striking photographs, often transcends reality to capture the spirit, time and place of a work of architecture. An analysis of architecture's visual presentation examines not only the media of the era--John Entenza's Arts & Architecture, for instance--but also the work of Shulman's photographic contemporaries.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Architectural photographer Julius Shulman left indelible images of early California modernism in his photographs of buildings by Richard Neutra, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles and Ray Eames, Rudolph Schindler and others. Shulman's seductive compositions helped define the popular image of California, especially Los Angeles, as a place of promise where one could remake oneself. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1910, Shulman, who moved to California at age 10 after living on a Connecticut farm, has a reverence for the order he perceives in both natural and architectural forms. Crystalline studies of lakes and boats, shots of Mexican pyramids and a traditional Norwegian house, lyrical photos of oil refineries and of Henry Moore's sculpture exemplify his diversity. This visually exciting portfolio includes sensitive appreciations by Rosa, director of Columbia University's Architectural Galleries, and the late McCoy, historian of Southern California architecture.

Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"For students of desert architecture, this book is a great addition to any collection." ~Desert Sun

"No design buff should forgo this photographic masterpiece." ~LA Confidential

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli; illustrated edition edition (February 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847817776
• ISBN-13: 978-0847817771
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 1 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Architectural

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent catalog of a great body of work, February 26, 2006

By 

Bukkene Bruse (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Constructed View: The Architectural Photography of Julius Shulman (Paperback)

This catalog provides a history and overview of Shulman's work, along with a nice biography of the photographer. The print quality is good, and the selection of photographs convey the breadth and nature of Shulman's career from the 1930's to 1980's. As a whole, Shuman's work illustrates how purpose so often underlies great art.

In addition to the historical and catalog aspects of the book, the narrative provides some excellent instruction in architectural photography. A must for any photography library.

30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, January 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Constructed View: The Architectural Photography of Julius Shulman (Paperback)

Julius Shulman's work is simply amazing and this book is a great tribute to that work. This publication is far better than the Taschen book. A must for any modern architecture/photography fan.