Brian Ulrich

Associate Professor
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BFA, University of Akron
MFA, Columbia College - Illinois

Brian Ulrich is an American photographer known for his exploration of consumer culture. Ulrich's work is held many collections including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Photo District News named Ulrich as one of 30 Emerging Photographers (2007). He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (2009). His work has been featured in the New York Times Magazine; Time Magazine; Mother Jones; Artforum; and Harper’s. Aperture and the Cleveland Museum of Art published his first major monograph, “Is This Place Great or What” (2011). The Anderson Gallery published the catalog “Closeout: Retail, Relics and Ephemera” (2013).

Courses

Fall 2024 Courses

PHOTO 532G-01 - GRADUATE CRITIQUE I
Level Graduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Fall 2024
Credits 9
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

PHOTO 532G-01

GRADUATE CRITIQUE I

Level Graduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Fall 2024
Credits 9
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: T | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Brian Ulrich, Laine Rettmer Enrolled / Capacity: 7 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This course is an ongoing discussion of individual work with special reference to current issues and concerns in contemporary art. Each student will be required to show and discuss work. Grades by participation.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Photography Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Photography

PHOTO 5350-01 - INTRO TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

PHOTO 5350-01

INTRO TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: M | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Brian Ulrich Location(s): Design Center, Room 315 Enrolled / Capacity: 14 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

In this course, students will be introduced to the basic principles of digitally capturing, processing, and printing photographs that are really worth making. We'll cover all the important functions that most digital cameras have in common and we'll go through the fundamentals of using Photoshop to refine and manipulate images. Students will learn their cameras' controls well enough to use the manual settings with confidence, and how to make the automatic features work for them instead of against them. We'll consider what makes a good photograph both technically and creatively, and we'll critique prints made on the Photo department's high-quality Epson printers. Students will need to provide their own digital camera with raw capture capability (DSLR or equivalent), and a portable hard drive (formatted for Mac), both of which they should bring to the first class. (Hard drives will be needed before week 2). Students registered for the course who are in the market for a new camera are welcome to contact the professor for camera purchasing advice.

Elective

PHOTO 536G-01 - GRADUATE CRITIQUE III THESIS
Level Graduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Fall 2024
Credits 9
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

PHOTO 536G-01

GRADUATE CRITIQUE III THESIS

Level Graduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Fall 2024
Credits 9
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: T | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Brian Ulrich, Laine Rettmer Enrolled / Capacity: 7 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This course is an ongoing discussion of individual work with special reference to current issues and concerns in contemporary art. Each student will be required to show and discuss work. Grades by participation.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Photography Students.


Major Requirement | MFA Photography

Wintersession 2025 Courses

PHOTO 5300-102 - INTRODUCTION TO DARKROOM PHOTOGRAPHY
Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Wintersession 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

PHOTO 5300-102

INTRODUCTION TO DARKROOM PHOTOGRAPHY

Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Wintersession 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2025-01-03 to 2025-02-06
Times: MTW | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM | 02/03/2025 - 02/05/2025; MT | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM | 01/27/2025 - 01/28/2025; MTW | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM | 01/06/2025 - 01/08/2025; TW | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM | 01/21/2025 - 01/22/2025; MT | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM | 01/13/2025 - 01/14/2025 Instructor(s): Brian Ulrich Location(s): Design Center, Room 417 Enrolled / Capacity: 14 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This is a basic course in the techniques of photographic seeing. Students will be given exercises to develop their ideas concerning the fundamental visual problems of photography. Students will also learn technical aspects of exposure, developing and printing in the darkroom as they explore and respond to the visual qualities of the medium. Students must provide their own 35mm camera with manual controls.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $150.00 - $200.00

Elective

Spring 2025 Courses

PHOTO 5308-01 - DIGITAL IMAGING 1
Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

PHOTO 5308-01

DIGITAL IMAGING 1

Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: T | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Brian Ulrich Location(s): Design Center, Room 315 Enrolled / Capacity: 14 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This course provides majors with a fundamental understanding of the differences between film-based photography and digital imaging and introduces students to the underlying principles, languages and tools of electronic media. Students will learn key concepts in digital imaging such as modes of data capture, file management, processing workflow, color management, resolution, 'non-destructive' image processing, film scanning and inkjet printing. This course will show students how to strategically tailor software tools to their own specific imagery and workflow needs. Students will need their own digital or film cameras for this course.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Preference is given to Sophomore Photography Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Photography

PHOTO 5313-01 - LARGE FORMAT
Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

PHOTO 5313-01

LARGE FORMAT

Level Undergraduate
Unit Photography
Subject Photography
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PM Instructor(s): Brian Ulrich Location(s): Design Center, Room 203 Enrolled / Capacity: 14 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This studio course is designed to help students slow down and become more contemplative with their photographic practice. This darkroom based course will give students ultimate compositional control as they learn to use the large format camera. Topics covered will include using the view camera's tilt, swing, shift and rise movements to control focus, perspective and image shape. Student will also learn film exposure techniques and advanced black and white printing controls. Later in the course students will be introduced to large format digital scanning and printing workflows.

Estimated Materials Cost: $150.00 - $500.00

Elective

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BFA, University of Akron
MFA, Columbia College - Illinois