REVIEW by Liz McNulty
Through the Eyes of Ulrike
Welsch (an e-Book) by
Ulrike Welsch
Spending a Sunday afternoon immersed
in the new e-Book, Through the Eyes of Ulrike Welsch, is a
pleasurable experience akin to spending the afternoon with the
photographer and her photographs. Those interested in
photojournalism in general and Welsch’s work in particular, can stop
wondering about how she does it.
In the book, Welsch provides viewers
with more than 170 of her best black and white newspaper photos
taken over a 20-year period. Each photo is accompanied by text
explaining how she produced it. Her voice comes across in her
explanations but it can literally be heard, too. Some photos
give the viewer the option of clicking on “VOICE” and hearing Welsch
speak about that photo. That’s a treat.
The enjoyment one always derives
from looking at Welsch’s photos is greatly enhanced by her comments,
written and spoken. Longtime shutterbugs may feel nostalgic when
she references her Nikon F2, Kodak Tri-X 400 film, and burning in
backgrounds in the darkroom. The book brings back memories of
historic events such as Pope John Paul II’s visit to Boston, the
arrival of the Tall Ships in ’76, the opening of the Kennedy
Library, and busing. It gives photographers food for thought
--maybe asking a subject to do something, politely seeking
permission from an authority figure, or climbing to photograph from
on high can produce a better photo.
Welsch’s photos in this e-Book are
from times past when newspapers thrived. At the end, she assures
viewers that she has moved on into the digital age. Her e-Book is
proof that she has embraced new technology and, interestingly, here
she has used it to make accessible timeless photos from the past
that could otherwise be forgotten. |
