Architectural History and Theory : Orientations
DAHO001
Task 1A: Photography and Frame
By William Clinton (3203863)
DAHO001
Task 1A: Photography and Frame
By William Clinton (3203863)
Hello and welcome my fellow colleagues,
Today I would like to present to you, the ways in which Julius Shulman, Framed mid-20th century architecture within his line of photography.
Julius Shulman was an American architectural photographer.
His career highlighted and explored the effect of modernism in California.
Julius Shulman was best known for his work of ‘Case Study 22’ also known as the ‘Stahl House’ Designed by architect Pierre Koening in 1960.
The ‘Case Study 22’ is important as in the research I have conducted, the focused was on a domestic environment that depicts a form of living specific to its architecture. Shulmans Work was based on the urban sprawl movement in the 1900’s. His work was to give a sense of ‘The good life’ which is a concept of living in the architecture he photographed. The Houses Shulman focused on were known as case study homes which would translate to project homes in today’s market. The photography was to display simplistic, yet beautifully aesthetic homes which affordable to live in.
Shulman photographed many homes which incorporated the use of industrial materials within the domestic spaces. Shulman made the spaces feel inviting by adding people into the photographs which not gave a sense of scale but the models he used were composed to create the feel that they were living ‘The good life’.
Shulman wanted the audience to feel impacted by his work, by looking at a beautiful building or public space all you see is a good building or a good public space, but when you add people into the photograph you feel a reaction, You feel a sense of ‘The good life’.
Today I would like to present to you, the ways in which Julius Shulman, Framed mid-20th century architecture within his line of photography.
Julius Shulman was an American architectural photographer.
His career highlighted and explored the effect of modernism in California.
Julius Shulman was best known for his work of ‘Case Study 22’ also known as the ‘Stahl House’ Designed by architect Pierre Koening in 1960.
The ‘Case Study 22’ is important as in the research I have conducted, the focused was on a domestic environment that depicts a form of living specific to its architecture. Shulmans Work was based on the urban sprawl movement in the 1900’s. His work was to give a sense of ‘The good life’ which is a concept of living in the architecture he photographed. The Houses Shulman focused on were known as case study homes which would translate to project homes in today’s market. The photography was to display simplistic, yet beautifully aesthetic homes which affordable to live in.
Shulman photographed many homes which incorporated the use of industrial materials within the domestic spaces. Shulman made the spaces feel inviting by adding people into the photographs which not gave a sense of scale but the models he used were composed to create the feel that they were living ‘The good life’.
Shulman wanted the audience to feel impacted by his work, by looking at a beautiful building or public space all you see is a good building or a good public space, but when you add people into the photograph you feel a reaction, You feel a sense of ‘The good life’.
With what I have learnt and how I now see the city through Julius Shulmans eyes, is the art of turning something beautiful into something practical. Using my smart phone camera, I have five Images I would like to share.
Evident in this photograph of the ‘Stahl House’ (Refer to Reference 1) Shulman has two women socialising before the photoshoot in the comfort of the home.
The house is made of industrial materials but very simplistic in its aesthetic.
The house is made of industrial materials but very simplistic in its aesthetic.
Reference 1 - 'Stahl House' By Julius Shulman, 1960
In the photograph I have composed, it shows a man in a public space reading on a ‘Concrete Seat’ which is on a concrete platform appearing the go out over the vegetation below (Refer to Photograph 1).
Photograph 1 - 'Concrete Seat' By William Clinton, 2018
Similar references can be made to the photograph I have taken of the ‘Long Communal Table’ (Refer to Photograph 2) with similar materials but importantly people using the architecture in the form of domestic urban space for its specific use and giving us a sense of ‘The good life’ Shulman wants us as his audience to feel.
Photograph 2 - 'Long Communal Table' By William Clinton, 2018
I have also taken inspiration Julius Shulmans photograph of ‘Mirman House’ (Refer to Reference 2) as it explores the same ideas of using industrial materials in a simplistic manner, creating a social setting.
Reference 2 - 'Mirman House' By Julius Shulman, 1959
This influence can be seen in these two images I have taken of the table under the ‘Powerhouse museum’ (Refer to Photograph 3) and the ‘Piing Pong Table’ on the goods line (Refer to Photograph 4), you will also notice the colours of red, yellow and black were another reason I captured these images as they tie together my work with Shulmans Photograph.
Photograph 3 - 'Powerhouse Museum' By William Clinton, 2018
Photograph 4 - 'Ping Pong Table' By William Clinton, 2018
I would also like to make reference to this photograph Julius Shulman took of ‘Albert Frey House’ in 1960 specifically the floating table (Refer to Reference 3).
Reference 3 - Photograph of 'Albert Frey House' By Julius Shulman,1940
Unordinary in its nature it what inspired me to capture this photograph of a table in the ‘Powerhouse Museum Café’ (Refer to Photograph 5) as they are both salient in the photograph and symbolise alternative practices to achieve a modern take on an age-old concept.
Photograph 5 - 'Powerhouse Museum Cafe' By William Clinton, 2018.
Bibliography
References
Reference 1 'Stahl House' By Julius Shulman, 1960
Time 100 Photos 2018, Case Study House no. 22, Los Angeles, Viewed 13/07/2018,
<http://100photos.time.com/photos/julius-shulman-case-study-house-22>
Reference 2 'Mirman House' By Julius Shulman, 1959
Mid-Centuria 2018, Julius Shulman Photography: Visual Acoustics, published 22/12/2010, Viewed 13/07/2018,
<http://www.midcenturia.com/2010/12/julius-shulman-visual-acoustics.html>
Reference 3 - Photograph of 'Albert Frey House' By Julius Shulman,1940
Boutique Homes 2018, THROUGH THE LENS OF JULIUS SHULMAN published 03/10/2016, Viewed 13/07/2018
<https://www.boutique-homes.com/journal/modernist-homes-lens-julius-shulman/>
Research
The Art of Photography - Ted Forbes, 2014, Julius Shulman, Video Recording, Viewed 13/07/2018.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWVkqY08-PU>
References
Reference 1 'Stahl House' By Julius Shulman, 1960
Time 100 Photos 2018, Case Study House no. 22, Los Angeles, Viewed 13/07/2018,
<http://100photos.time.com/photos/julius-shulman-case-study-house-22>
Reference 2 'Mirman House' By Julius Shulman, 1959
Mid-Centuria 2018, Julius Shulman Photography: Visual Acoustics, published 22/12/2010, Viewed 13/07/2018,
<http://www.midcenturia.com/2010/12/julius-shulman-visual-acoustics.html>
Reference 3 - Photograph of 'Albert Frey House' By Julius Shulman,1940
Boutique Homes 2018, THROUGH THE LENS OF JULIUS SHULMAN published 03/10/2016, Viewed 13/07/2018
<https://www.boutique-homes.com/journal/modernist-homes-lens-julius-shulman/>
Research
The Art of Photography - Ted Forbes, 2014, Julius Shulman, Video Recording, Viewed 13/07/2018.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWVkqY08-PU>
