Blog Post-Artist of Influence-Wynn Bullock/Image Inspiration

The artist of influence that I chose for this unit was Wynn Bullock. His style of photography suits my interest and my own style of photography, which is why I chose him as my photographer. Born in Chicago Illinois, Wynn Bullock developed his interest in photography during the late 1920s while living in Paris. Originally pursuing a career as a concert singer, Bullock became fascinated with the works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters, which led him to discover the photography of Man Ray and László Moholy-Nagy. This exposure sparked an immediate affinity for photography as an art form uniquely based on light and as a creative means to engage with the world. He bought his first camera and began taking pictures, marking the beginning of his photographic journey. Taking a look at his photos, it is clear that tone and lighting is his forte, as he alters the tone and lighting to convey a sense of abstraction and creativity in almost all of his photos. We can see he also finds creative ways to engage the world with the setting or subject of the photograph. The settings of his photo aren’t just a specific genre or field, it is rather anything that comes to his mind. An apple, mountain, dinosaur skull, you name it! He has taken photos various places around the world, which is a method/technique that I admire and want to pursue in my trip. I want to take photos of various settings to pursue my own interest in photography, and communicate a sense of creativity with the people viewing my photo. Another technique that I admire in his style of photography is that he likes to work out the scene. He tries to find the formal elements of photography or any specific technique that he can use that will best enhance the quality of the photograph. His way of inputting various techniques into his photographs without a clear pattern whatsoever really inspires me to think outside the box as well when looking at the techniques that I could use in street photography. In conclusion, I really like the way that Wynn Bullock takes photos and uses techniques, so he is my artist of influence for this unit. Here are some of the photos that Wynn Bullock took for further reference:

Image of inspiration: Del Monte Forest (1969)

 This photograph, “Del Monte Forest” by Wynn Bullock, was taken in 1969 and exemplifies Bullock’s mastery of black-and-white landscape photography. Using large-format cameras, Bullock captured the intricate textures of tree bark, ferns, and mist with remarkable clarity, relying on natural light and atmospheric conditions to create a sense of mystery and depth. His careful composition centers a weathered tree stump, framed by vertical trunks and enveloped in fog, drawing the viewer into a contemplative exploration of the forest. While not street photography in the traditional sense—since it lacks urban life and candid human moments—Bullock’s approach shares the street photographer’s intent to reveal the extraordinary within the ordinary. Both genres demand acute observation, patience, and an ability to find meaning in the everyday environment, whether on a bustling city street or in the quiet depths of a forest. I feel like this image in particular shows just how Wynn Bullock’s style of photography aligns with the ideas of street photography that we are learning.

Work Cited