VOA常速英语2007-Julius Shulman Still Photographing Los Angeles a

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
31 October 2007

Julius Shulman is one of the world's leading architectural photographers, and today at 97, he is still taking pictures of his long-time home, Los Angeles. Mike O'Sullivan reports, Shulman's famous images of homes and other buildings show the city's transformation¹ over seven decades.

As he looks through a display of his photographs at the Los Angeles central library, Julius Shulman pauses at one of the most famous pictures ever taken in the city. It shows an ultra-modern house atop the hills. Designed by architect Pierre Koenig, it is made of steel and glass and seems transparent². Two women inside are engaged in conversation against the backdrop of Los Angeles at night.

The picture was part of a series known as the Case Study House Program that illustrated³ modern home design. Shulman took the photograph in 1960, and he marvels⁴ at how many people have seen it since then.

"That picture has been published more than any known photograph ever in the history of architectural photography," said Julius Shulman. "All over the world, it continues to be published in magazines and books and calendars and everything. So the point is, it shows Los Angeles."

One hundred fifty of Shulman's photographs from the collection of the Getty Research Institute are display at the Los Angeles main library. They also show the city's distinctive⁵ and sometimes whimsical architecture - the recreated Roman Villa⁶ built by oilman J. Paul Getty, which is part of the Getty Museum, and the Hollywood Bowl, the famous Los Angeles amphitheater.

Shulman's photographs also celebrate the work of some of the city's noted⁷ architects, from Pierre Koenig to Frank Gehry.

Shulman lifts his cane⁸ to point out the landmarks⁹ in one of his pictures.

"The city hall on the right, the San Gabriel Mountains, the snow on the mountains," he said.

The seaport¹⁰, the airport, and the tourist sites of Hollywood Boulevard - Shulman has photographed them all many times.

Getty associate curator Christopher Alexander says Shulman made his name here, as he introduced the architecture of Los Angeles to a worldwide audience. The curator says the exhibit shows the photographer's many sides.

"Shulman the businessman and the promoter and marketer, was marketing¹¹ his hometown to the rest of the world, not only through the case study residential¹² architecture but through the civic¹³, commercial, and cultural architecture of this city," said Christopher Alexander. "And so that is what this exhibition really reveals."

Getty curator Wim De Wit says Shulman is still documenting the city he loves. The photographer plans to take a group of photography students on a bus tour. They will first stop at the central library to see images of Los Angeles in days past.

"We are going to take these students to the exhibition, and then drive around with them," said Wim De Wit. "And Julius will then work with them on taking photos of what the downtown looks like right now. So above anything else, Julius is an educator."

Shulman looks forward to the tour, which he says will reveal the city's impressive modern skyline.

"We are going to come back with a set of photographs which is going to be another eye opener," said Shulman. "Hey, wow. A 73-story building. It challenges New York, challenges Chicago. And it challenges **."

Some residents lament¹⁴ the changes in Los Angeles, which gets more people, cars and buildings every year. Julius Shulman says the city is just evolving, and he plans to keep photographing the process.

1 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

2 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

3 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

4 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

5 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

6 villa   

n.别墅，城郊小屋

参考例句：

• We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
• We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

9 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

10 seaport   

n.海港，港口，港市

参考例句：

• Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。
• A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

11 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

12 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

13 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

14 lament   

n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹

参考例句：

• Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
• We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。