RIT’s Photo School Welcomes Alumnus Jerry Uelsmann to Campus

The first day of a new school season at Rochester Institute of Technology features a special presentation by a world-renowned photographic artist. RIT alumnus Jerry Uelsmann (’57) returns to his alma mater to discuss his work and to meet with a new generation of image-makers.

His lecture will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, in Webb Auditorium, James E. Booth Building, on RIT’s Henrietta campus. The auditorium inside the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science will be equipped with a live video feed of Uelsmann’s presentation to accommodate an overflow crowd. A book-signing session will follow his lecture. The event is free and open to the public.

Considered the master of a darkroom technique known as "burning and dodging," Uelsmann manipulates his various images through the use of multiple negatives. The results are photographic montages that offer startling illusions.

"I try to begin working with no preconceived ideas," explains Uelsmann. "Each click of the shutter suggests an emotional and visual involvement. My contact sheets then become a kind of visual diary of all the things I have seen and experienced with my camera. They contain the seeds from which my images grow."

Colleen Parnell, a second-year photography student and a big fan of Uelsmann’s work, says she’s excited about his visit to the RIT campus. "I’ve been telling everyone about it. His images are very abstract and surreal, and I find them amazing. He really inspires me."

Uelsmann’s presentation will precede the opening of an exhibition of his work. Transcendence begins Friday, Sept. 7, at the Elizabeth Collection Gallery, 565 Blossom Road. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. The show continues through Wednesday, Oct. 31.

For more information on Jerry Uelsmann’s visit to RIT, call the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at 475-2716.