Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman
July 29, 2009 at 9:19 pm | Posted in architecture, film, photography | Leave a commentTags: architecture, julius shulman, photography, visual acoustics
This film has been on my list of things to blog about for a while so I figured this would be a fitting follow up to my previous entry; a tribute to the late Julius Shulman.
Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, Visual Acoustics explores the monumental career of 98-year-old architectural photographer, Julius Shulman. Populating his photos with human models and striking landscapes, Shulman combined the organic with the synthetic, melding nature with revolutionary urban design. The resulting images helped to shape the careers of some of the greatest architects of the 20th Century, with Shulman documenting the work of Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, Pierre Koenig, John Lautner, and many others.
For those of you who happen to be in Melbourne there is a screening of Visual Acoustics this weekend (Sunday August 2) as a part of the Melbourne International Film Festival. I’m afraid I’ll just have to wait for the theatre release or when it comes out on DVD though. 
For more information visit the official website at www.juliusshulmanfilm.com
Julius Shulman (1910 – 2009)
July 28, 2009 at 10:54 pm | Posted in architecture, photography | Leave a commentTags: architecture, julius shulman, photography
Photo: Dan Winters
“What good is a dream house if you haven’t got a dream?” -Julius Shulman
Just a few months shy of his 99th birthday, Julius Shulman, the photographer famous for his iconic photos of modern homes and a glamorous post-war Los Angeles, died at his home in L.A. on Wednesday the 15th of August.
His love and respect for Modernist architecture, his amazing photos and his contagiously charming personality led him to be a well respected champion of the modernist architecture movement.
Shulman’s architectural photography career began by chance at the young age of 26 when his photos of an incomplete house designed by Richard Neutra impressed the architect so much that he offered him money for them and invited him to take more. This talent for photography not only launched his own career but arguably the careers of many of the period’s most famous architects such as Rudolph Schindler, Pierre Koenig, John Lautner, Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Raphael Soriano (who designed Shulman’s own house, which he lived in for decades.)
His work, whether in black and white or colour, was never just about composition and light. It was about lifestyle. He was the first architectural photographer to plant men, women, and children like props inside buildings.
Photo: Genaro Molina
Above is a photo of Julius Shulman at work photographing the now famous Stahl House (Case Study House #22) and below is a link to a short video of Julius talking about his most famous photograph that could easily be said to be the signature image of 1960’s Los Angeles.
For a great article that gives an insight into the life of the charming, brilliant, and cantankerous architectural photographer in 36 exposures visit the LAmag website here.
Bayon Head – Diana F+
July 23, 2009 at 10:37 pm | Posted in my work, photography | 3 CommentsTags: angkor thom, bayon, cambodia, diana f+, my photography, photography
Photo: Aidan Taylor 2009
I’m back! I thought I’d kick things off with a photo I took while exploring the Bayon Temple in the ancient city of Angkor Thom, Cambodia. I took this using my 38mm wide angle lens and black and white medium format film.
The Girl and The Tiki Head
June 22, 2009 at 1:14 am | Posted in my work, photography | Leave a commentTags: diana+, my photography, photography, tiki
Photo: Aidan Taylor 2009
This shot was taken with my Diana+ on 120 format slide film.
Domestic Bliss – Steven Klein
June 16, 2009 at 1:00 am | Posted in photography | 1 CommentTags: case study house #21, domestic bliss, mid century modern, photography
Domestic Bliss – An editorial photo shoot for W Magazine is a collaboration between Steven Klein and Brad Pitt and also starring Angelina Jolie. Shot in July 2005, the photo shoot was inspired by married life in the 1950’s and 60’s.
‘Brad Pitt opted to set it in 1963 (the year he was born), a time when the last traces of squeaky-clean Fifties were giving way to something more complicated. “The face was still being maintained,” Brad Pitt says, “but things were starting to crumble underneath.”’ - Christopher Bagley. W Magazine
The scenes, furniture, clothes and style play homage to the mid-century modern era but I particularly like how the photography of that era has also been referenced – the above image being inspired by one of the more iconic Case Study House photographs by Julius Shulman. Below is the photograph taken in Case Study House #21, which was designed by the architect Pierre Koenig (who is also standing in the image).
Case Study House #21 (1960) designed by Pierre Koenig. Photo: Julius Schulman
This theme of the perfect 50’s and 60’s lifestyle with the undertone of things being ‘not-so-perfect’ reminds me a lot of many of Shag’s paintings that depict a similar era. Check some out in a previous entry here.
Second photo: Julius Schulmann. All other photos: Steven Klein
Check out the many photos from this shoot at W Magazine here.
Also check out Steven Klein’s impressive website www.stevenkleinstudio.com to see these photos along with some of his other work.
‘Concrete Light’
May 27, 2009 at 12:45 am | Posted in my work, photography | Leave a commentTags: my photography, photography
Photo: Aidan Taylor 2004
The Chapel of the Holy Cross by Pekka Pitkanen in Turku, Finland
Diana+ Camera
May 13, 2009 at 11:43 pm | Posted in photography | 3 CommentsTags: 120 format, diana+, lomography, photography
The Diana+ is a remake of the original 1960’s plastic lens Diana camera whose production was discontinued in the 1970’s. Using 120 format film, this lo-fi analogue camera shoots dreamy, colour drenched images with cool and at times unpredictable results.
The Diana+ can shoot multiple formats, has two shutter speeds (daytime and unlimited exposure), four aperture settings (including pinhole), a removable lens (for pinhole mode) and a manual advance wheel that doesn’t lock so you can take multiple or partial exposures. There are also a number of accessories available such as different lenses and flashes.
I finally got one for Christmas last year and I love it. I initially had trouble getting the lens off but Karen and the folks at Lomo HQ Australia were very helpful when contacted and sent a replacement without any fuss.
With the select number of features the Diana+ has, it allows you to get back to the basics of film photography. Point. Shoot and wait with anticipation for your film to be developed.
Oh yeah – I forgot to mention that this classic also looks rad on my shelf at home!
Click the above images to view them in their original galleries on the Diana+ microsite (no photoshop used!)
Visit the Diana+ microsite here.
Sexitecture
March 7, 2009 at 1:15 am | Posted in books, furniture, photography | Leave a commentTags: furniture, photography, sexitecture
Since I hadn’t posted much for a while I thought I’d do two posts in two days. (I’m feeling guilty!)
While doing a search for mid-century modern furniture a little while back I came across this photographic book by Jed Darland titled Sexitecture. Released in 2004, the limited edition book contains 50 black and white photographs of the female body and various pieces of designer furniture. The book is published in a frame-lid box so all the photographs can be individually mounted or framed.
“SEXITECTURE: The female body graced by architecturally inspired furniture will raise awareness of the importance of design as it relates to human scale, and remind readers to be conscious of their surroundings, where they live, where they work, and most importantly, where they sit.” JED DARLAND
The limited edition of 10,000 copies is now sold out but I have seen copies listed for sale on www.amazon.com
Sexitecture also has a new project in the works: “SEXITECTURE: The Vitruvian Man.”
Check out the Sexitecture website for more information here
or the Sexitecture Myspace page here
The Aeron Chair
The Ball Chair
Barb Wire Afternoon
February 10, 2009 at 10:07 pm | Posted in my work, photography | Leave a commentTags: my photography, photography
Photo: Aidan Taylor 2005
I’ve decided to start putting up some of my amateur photography every now and then.
CERAMIC SPEAKER
AALTO VASE
SKYLINE RESIDENCE
I LOVE THE GARAGE SIGN
VADER HOUSE
FIVE GIRLS
SEDUCTIVE ESPIONAGE
BINIMELIS HOUSE
DIANA F+
101 THINGS I LEARNED...
STAHL HOUSE
MONOPOLY REPACKAGING 
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