Julius Shulman. It’s a name you may not know but you’ve probably seen his work before and you’ve certainly been influenced by it.
We all have.
Mr. Shulman is the subject of Visual Acoustics, a documentary focused on his career as a photographer of Modern architecture. Shulman was in the right place at the right time with the right ‘eye’. He captured the creations of Frank Lloyd Wright, Pierre Koenig, Charles Eames and Richard Neutra (just to name a few). The buildings and homes created by these master architects are experienced by few people, so much of our understanding of these men and their work is seen through Shulman’s eyes.
Dustin Hoffman narrates: “Architects live and die by the images that are taken of their work.”
While Visual Acoustics isn’t a great film, Director Eric Bricker does a nice job revealing the interconnections between the architects, publications and photographs of the time. He showcases Shulman as a charming, but quite opinionated, older gentleman content with his impact on the world. He humbly explains, “The architects do the hard work. I just take pictures.”
If you’re a fan of Modern architecture and great photography, further investigation into Shulman’s world will be worth your time. Here’s a few link to his exhibition at the Getty to get you started: http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/shulman/
