Visual Acoustics

Interview With Joel Tjintjelaar
20th-century architectural photography was dominated by two towering figures who each had a significant impact on the promotion of mid-century modern architecture in America. Those two figures were Julius Shulman & Ezra Stoller. Both Shulman and Stoller were commercial photographers. Meaning, that their work was commissioned by architects and architectural publications for use commercially in magazines and portfolios. The work was never intended to be fine art. However, the work they produced was so compelling that prints from both photographers are now considered fine art.
Shulman and Stoller had many similarities. Both shot large format film cameras. Both used camera movements with great precision to create perfect vertical and horizontal perspectives. Both were hugely influential in promoting mid-century modern architecture (Shulman in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and Stoller in Chicago and New York). Both were film photographers in the pre-Photo...