Jerry N. Uelsmann is an American photographer who has pioneered photomontage in 20th-century America.
Starting his photography interest at 14 Uelsmann overcame poor grades to earn degrees from the Rochester Institute of Technology and Indiana University.
He started teaching photography in 1960 and had his breakthrough exhibit in 1967.
Known for creating composite photos with multiple negatives and darkroom techniques he explored imaginative surreal imagery.
Now retired from teaching he lives in Gainesville Florida continuing to create photos selecting his top ten yearly from over a hundred.
I have curated the top quotes by Jerry Uelsmann.
Best Jerry Uelsmann Quotes
1. “It is the illusion of knowledge, not ignorance, that keeps one from growing.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
2. “Photography is just light remembering itself.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
3. “The camera is a fluid way of encountering that other reality.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
4. “The camera basically is a license to explore.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
5. “The anticipation of discovering new possibilities becomes my greatest joy.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
6. “I have gradually confused photography and life and as a result of this I believe I am able to work out of myself at an almost precognitive level.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
7. “My creative process begins when I get out with the camera and interact with the world. A camera is truly a license to explore. There are no uninteresting things. There are just uninterested people.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
8. “All knowledge is self-reflective.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
9. “The simple act of having a camera, not a cell phone, but a camera-camera, there’s a kind of a heightened perceptional awareness that occurs. Like, I could walk from here to the highway in two minutes, but if I had a camera, that walk could take me two hours.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
Top Jerry Uelsmann Quotes
10. “I have gradually confused photography with life.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
11. “The goal of the artist is not to resolve life’s mysteries, but to deepen them.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
12. “It’s equally hard and labor intensive to create an image on the computer as it is in a darkroom. Believe me.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
13. “When the entire process becomes a prescribed ritual that does not allow for spontaneous variations and reactions, the vitality of the medium and our relation to it suffers.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
14. “The creative process can sustain itself throughout the entire celebration of photography.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
15. “I try to begin working with no preconceived ideas.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
16. “Let us not be afraid to allow for post-visualization. By post-visualization I refer to the willingness on the part of the photographer to revisualize the final image at any point in the entire photographic process.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
17. “I think of my photographs as being obviously symbolic, but not symbolically obvious.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
18. “In the arts there are many right answers.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
19. “Of course, in order to make art, the frustration of not working has to be greater than the frustration of working.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
Famous Jerry Uelsmann Quotes
20. “I think of many of my photographs as being obviously symbolic but not symbolically obvious. There isn’t any specific correlation between the symbols in this image and any content that I have in mind.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
21. “My visual quest is driven by a desire to create a universe capable of supporting feelings and ideas.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
22. “Editions made sense when people worked with engravings where the plate wore down as prints were made. An early number of the edition had slightly better quality. But that’s not the case with photography. To me, it’s a false way of creating value.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
23. “I’m really very concerned with helping to create an attitude of freedom and daring toward the craft of photography.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
24. “I’ve learned over the years that when you get a clue to another possibility to follow it through…” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
25. “The truth is that one is more frequently blessed with ideas while working.” ~ (Jerry Uelsmann).
