The life of Jerry Uelsmann

By River Hunt

“Ultimately, my hope is to amaze myself. The anticipation of discovering new possibilities becomes my greatest joy.”-Jerry Uelsmann

One of Uelsmanns more famous self portraits.

Background Information• Jerry Uelsmann was born in Detroit, Michigan

on June 11, 1934.

• He became very interested in photography once he got to high school.

• Once graduating, he went on to the Rochester institute of technology, where his instructors showed him that an image can be transformed.

• Once graduating college, he then married Marylinn Kamischke.

Uelsmann never used photoshop in his pictures.

What He Is Known ForJerry Uelsmann is known for having very mysterious photographs , and I feel like he could have strongly influenced photoshop as well.

His College Life

• Once graduating, he went on to the Rochester institute of technology, where his instructors showed him that an image can be transformed.

• Once graduating college, he then married Marylinn Kamischke

Who Influenced Him?

• He was influenced by his college professors; including Bruce Davidson, Pete Turner, and Carl Chiarenza.

A man with wings, to me it seems like he symbolizes freedom.

Why Was He Important To Photography?

• He Is known around the world for his creative photos made by hand printing several negatives on a single sheet of paper.

Left: in his photo, called “ mid-life metaphor” it seems like it is about himself. It’s a worn down floating block symbolizing his life.

How Did He Change The Art of Photography?

Uelsmann was very good at designing pictures to make them seem unreal.

• Almost all of his photographs are in a fictitious fashion.

Left: His hair blends well with the clouds.

Some of His Work

Left: in this picture, he uses the chairs to make them look like they are floating on the water.Right: Uelsmann manages to get lips on the road.

Interesting Pictures

Uelsmanns photo, called philosopher’s desk, it is his place to think.

Criticism

Jerry Uelsmann uses other objects to make things seem unreal, like the forest in the rock, and the woman's face. The tree in the background makes the image look more balanced and is more soothing to the eye.

Works Cited

Maher, Chris . Jerry Uelsmann Interview .2007. Web. 12 Mar. 2013

Phil Sandoval. The Mind's Eye, 50 Years of Photographyby Jerry Uelsmann at the PEM. 28Mar. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2013

Berman, Larry. Master Interview; Jerry Uelsmann. 1Sep. 2007. 10 Mar. 2013

THE END

“I think of my photographs as being obviously symbolic, but not symbolically obvious.”-Jerry Uelsmann

Jerry Uelsmanns photo “Undiscovered self.”