Wynn Bullock: Masters of Photography Series

by Wynn Bullock (Photographer)

Wynn Bullock continues to be known as one of America's most innovative and experimental photographers. Bullock felt that his photographs were more than surface reflections, that they portrayed the interaction of “space and time” defined by light. This volume contains Bullock's most influential and best-known images, spanning his entire photographic career. An essay by David Fuess illuminates Bullock's life and work, drawing from a series of revealing interviews conducted with Bullock just prior to his death. Wynn Bullock devoted most of his life to exploring the natural universe and man's relationship to it; the vehicle of his search was the photograph. The penetrating, enigmatic and almost mystical nature of his images is accomplished through formal beauty matched with provocative imagery. Bullock wanted to jolt people to new heights of visual and self-awareness by encouraging them to relate to nature directly, unencumbered by traditional modes of visual and abstract thinking. His dramatic photographs have been characterized as showing the inner essence of nature, powerfully reflecting its mysterious beauty on a level extending beyond the everyday.

Genres: Photography, Art

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Iain]

One of the more enjoyable entries in the Aperture Masters series. Intro text does a good job of providing basic but interesting biographical information and the gist of Bullock's philosophical leanings, though some of the details that perhaps seemed like amusing anecdotes when this was published now come across as questionable inclusions in such a basic overview. The photo reproductions are typical of this series: not the very best, but still very good and more than adequate for the purpose and price of these books. It does seem odd that the color abstract period is discussed in some detail in the intro but entirely omitted from the photos, though I suppose I've yet to see a color image in this series.

[Andrea]

Best introductory essay that I've read so far in this series. And the photos---haunting and lovely.