I have a predecessor!!! Wanda Wulz 🩷

[Twoshadows]

My facebook feed is full of art and artists. One day recently I ran across a photographer from the nineteen thirties called Wanda Wulz.

Wanda Wulz - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

It is clear from looking at her images that she started with film what I am continuing with digital. Digital makes it easier and faster to learn what she started. I am simply carrying on her work.

Edit: Apparently Grete Stern was also a surrealist photographer from the 1950s. Her work further's Wanda Wulz'.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing, Julia!

 

[Twoshadows]

The similarities are sometimes amazing. Scroll down to the image reel...

Grete Stern — AWARE Women artists / Femmes artistes

Grete Stern interrupted her art studies to become an independent graphic designer in 1926. After moving to Berlin in 1927, she took private lessons from the photographer Walter Peterhans, and purchased his equipment when he left to teach at the Bauhaus. With her friend Ellen...

awarewomenartists.com

 

[Twoshadows]

From reading about Stern and from observing Wulz' images, they are the two that seem to be the least inclined to touch up negatives and therefore would be closest to my process. It seems that most photographers like Philippe Halsman and others did the film version of comping or photomontage a la dahli atomicus.

 

[Capn Jack]

I see the similarities. Thanks for posting the link.

 

[West Coast Birder]

Fascinating stuff. This is the work of a true artist. I, for example, am no artist. Of course, after a few years behind a camera, I have a general feel for framing, light, color, etc. and I work towards getting the image I want (and a lot of times, get it by accident ), but to conceptualize an image - what graphic or non-living elements go into it and how they juxtapose with the living element, whether it be a model or a self-image, and then execute the vision into an image through skilled manipulation, is a bit beyond my comprehension. At the risk of using a tired cliche, my engineer left-hemisphere dominant brain cannot do it.

 

[SkedAddled]

I knew the techniques must have at least been experimented with before, in some way,
while I have enjoyed many of your versions, Julia. How serendipitously nice it must be
for you to have found these people's works. I have certainly enjoyed the work
you have chosen to share with us, and encourage you to continue with your creations.

 

[Twoshadows]

I see the similarities. Thanks for posting the link.

You are welcome.

 

[Twoshadows]

Fascinating stuff. This is the work of a true artist. I, for example, am no artist. Of course, after a few years behind a camera, I have a general feel for framing, light, color, etc. and I work towards getting the image I want (and a lot of times, get it by accident ), but to conceptualize an image - what graphic or non-living elements go into it and how they juxtapose with the living element, whether it be a model or a self-image, and then execute the vision into an image through skilled manipulation, is a bit beyond my comprehension. At the risk of using a tired cliche, my engineer left-hemisphere dominant brain cannot do it.

I don't know. I don't believe you.

I think somewhere there's an untapped artist within the confines of your being.

It seems to me the difference between technically competent and comfortable with one's equipment and the ability to execute vision is a small step. I bet you've seen some breathtaking things during your adventures as a photographer. I guess what I'm saying is I think there's a lot you could show the world.

If you are into experimentation and just playing around with equipment I think you would love chromochromagraphs. I'm always available to answer questions. And this goes for anyone who's reading this, you can message me here, or better yet, ask in a thread.

I also wanna update you on the situation regarding putting together a tutorial for ccgs. I'm down to the last two and a half weeks of my move across country, so any movement on a tutorial is going to have to wait until I get settled in in the north east. So the good news is I have not forgotten and am.In fact champing at the bit to get this done. The bad news is of course circumstance.

 

[Twoshadows]

I knew the techniques must have at least been experimented with before, in some way,
while I have enjoyed many of your versions, Julia. How serendipitously nice it must be
for you to have found these people's works. I have certainly enjoyed the work
you have chosen to share with us, and encourage you to continue with your creations.

What i'm seeing are double exposures with each a single lighting event. What I am not seeing are single exposures with multiple lighting events and that is the hallmark of my process. So yes, they experimented but they didn't take the next step and that is what takes you down the rabbit hole, so to speak. Thank you for the good words and the encouragement.