Uelsmann, Jerry N. Approaching the Shadow by Jerry Uelsmann.

Nazraeli Press, 2000. Cloth bound hardcover with photo affixed to front cover, plus 56 other Surrealistic photos. Edition of 2000.  [Born in 1934, Jerry Uelsmann became known for his photomontages, produced with multiple negatives printed with several different enlargers in his darkroom.  In the latter part of his career, he began using computer software to achieve similar effects.] Like new.  Summary:

Approaching the Shadow is a career-spanning photography monograph by American master photographer Jerry Uelsmann. The collection serves as a visual exploration of the subconscious, showcasing the dark, mysterious, and psychological undercurrents of his work.

Key Elements of the Work

• The Imagery: The monograph features 57 black-and-white photographs spanning roughly 40 years of Uelsmann’s career. A significant portion of the collection includes previously unpublished images, offering fresh insight into his extensive artistic evolution.

• The Subject Matter: The photographs embody Uelsmann's signature dark, foreboding, and surreal style. Moving away from traditional documentary photography, the collection relies heavily on archetypal symbols—like sinister-looking entrances, floating trees, blending human forms, and isolated landscapes—to evoke a dreamlike or unsettling atmosphere.

• The Medium: The book highlights Uelsmann’s mastery of analog photomontage. Decades before digital editing software existed, Uelsmann famously created these seamless, surreal compositions entirely by hand in the darkroom using multiple enlargers and a complex technique of combining different negatives.

Narrative Intent

The core thesis of the work centers on the idea of tapping into the shadow self. These specific photographs serve as a personal metaphor for those dark and evocative images that emerge from just beyond the threshold of conscious understanding. Rather than capturing the external world, the collection maps the interior terrain of human memory, fear, and creation.