Visual Acoustics

[David Karp]

Some of you might be interested in the documentary "Visual Acoustics" about photographer Julius Shulman.

Here is the trailer: www.juliusshulmanfilm.com/trailer-gallery/

Here is the website: www.juliusshulmanfilm.com/

Here is a review: www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-visual16-2009oct16,0,6494000.story

It is now showing in Santa Monica, CA.

[Richard M. Coda]

Thanks for the link. Wish it was showing in AZ.

[chris_4622]

I saw this movie yesterday at the Chicago Film Festival.

It is an interesting story about a likable guy. I have one criticism about the movie, it was edited a little too fast for my taste. Not much time to look at the photos and read the captions. I realize the filmmaker had to fit an awful lot of information in an hour and a half but in this case I think less would have served the movie better.

I recommend seeing this movie. The man, photography and history makes for a satisfying, inspirational and educational experience.

[David Karp]

Thanks for the quick review Chris.

[drew.saunders]

It's also listed in Netflix as a "save" option, but no release date is given.

[Merg Ross]

Thanks for posting, Dave. I look forward to viewing the film.

Julius Shulman and Morley Baer, both photographers of West Coast architecture, were my mentors. They were my inspiration, and responsible for my venture down a similar path as an architectural photographer. Morley, I had known from childhood. Julius, I never had the opportunity to meet; however, I have been in houses that he photographed, and in comparing the structures to his photographic renditions, the results are amazing. He was truly a master of his profession.

It is wonderful to see his work and life put to film. However, I must disagree that he was, "the world's greatest architectural photographer". He was present at a pivotal time in West Coast architecture, and extremely skilled at interpreting and presenting what was before his lens.

[David Karp]

Frustratingly, I have not yet had a chance to see the film. I am champing at the bit.

I have read a couple of Shulman's books, and enjoyed them tremendously. His personality shows through loudly and clearly in each of them. I always wanted to meet him. People I know who had met him said he was always gracious and willing to share his knowledge with other photographers. My wife and I were scheduled to go to a show of his work not too long before he died. He was scheduled to be there and to give a talk. We had to cancel because it turned out to be on the same night as a school function that meant a lot to my son. We made the right choice, but I had a sneaking suspicion that when you pass up on a chance to listen to and meet a 90+ year old photographer, that I was not likely to get another. Unfortunately, I was right on that one.

Here are some other links with information on or interviews with Julius Shulman:

www.scpr.org/news/2009/07/16/julius-shulman-dies/

www.kcet.org/explore-ca/web-stories/shelter/shulman/index.php

[chris_4622]

Thanks for posting, Dave. I look forward to viewing the film.

It is wonderful to see his work and life put to film. However, I must disagree that he was, "the world's greatest architectural photographer". He was present at a pivotal time in West Coast architecture, and extremely skilled at interpreting and presenting what was before his lens.

Merg,

Well put.
I came away from the movie having similar thoughts, though not as concise as yours.

chris

[D. Bryant]

FWIW, This movie is now streaming on Netflix.

[Doug Howk]

I bought the DVD (http://www.juliusshulmanfilm.com/store/) and have watched it couple of times. Not much on techniques but great on the modern architecture styles as practiced in California.

[Bruce Watson]

Finally got to see this film via Netflix.

I've always been highly impressed with Shulman's photography so I had high hopes for this film. Sadly, I wasn't that impressed with it. My wife, a big architecture and design fan who just loves the West Coast Modern design area, architecture, and Shulman in particular, walked out on it about half way through.

Why? This documentary is all context and no content. It covers just about everything except Shulman's photography. It was mostly about the architects, and they have been better covered elsewhere. What was lacking was more about how he worked and why he worked that way. And of course, some discourse on the photographs themselves, and some actual screen time for the photographs (whole, not zoomed in and moving quickly).

I wish I could recommend this film. Certainly Shulman's work deserves recognition. Sigh... But if you're really a Shulman film, maybe you can see the film as a complement to his books?

Maybe we can get Ken Burns to take on the West Coast Modern Architecture topic -- he can tell the entire story through Shulman's photographs. At least Burns knows what to do with a photograph in a video. ;)

[David Karp]

I agree with a lot of what Bruce said. So many of the photos whiz by on screen and disappear quickly. Or they are too small.

The context vs. content comment is right on. It was good to be able to hear Shulman speak, and that little bit where he is photographing Disney Hall through/with his associate was priceless. They had a little disagreement about some vignetting, and Shulman said something like "No . . . That is why people like my photographs."

It would have been nice to see and hear more about him at work, and about his photographs as photographs, and about him as a photographer.

My wife and I sat through the entire film, and both of us felt disappointed, having had high hopes for this flick.