Context and concept

Saul Leiter is an American artist and photographer, during his late teens his interest grew for painting shortly moving to New York in 1946 to pursue this. After, He came in contact with an Abstract Expressionist painter Richard Pousette-Dart who was experimenting with photography at the time, to later meeting Eugene Smith, and exhibitions of Henri Cartier Bresson at the museum of modern art in 1947, was what inspired him. His abstract approaches of forms and innovative compositions have a painterly quality that stands out among New York, suggesting this through colour and reflections. Creating this effect of a painted look. Looking at his work I can see his inspirations from these photographers, for example Henri Cartier Bresson, the way the the people are captured in the ‘decisive moment’ so they are unaware they’re being captured.

“I happen to believe in the beauty of simple things. I believe that the most uninteresting thing can be very interesting.”

“I LIKE IT WHEN ONE IS NOT CERTAIN WHAT ONE SEES.” – SAUL LEITER 

https://www.1854.photography/2016/01/ordinary-beauty-saul-leiter/#:~:text=While%20Leiter’s%20early%20black%2Dand,British%20Vogue%2C%20Esquire%20and%20more.

This quote perfectly describes his style of street photography, through the way he captures photos in the decisive moment, meaning that there isn’t much of a subject or meaning behind the photograph, in a way it’s up to you how you perceive the photo. Considering the people are a central focus of the photo, it creates an interesting narrative, as its portraits of them in day to day so so its clear where they are, through expressions and poses but ‘unclear of what one sees.’ His style is seen as a poetic and painterly quality, with a keen eye for colour and composition, leading to an emotional and in-depth response from the viewer. Through each of these contrasting effects created by visual elements, work together giving this warm feeling. Featuring reflections, shadows, blurred objects create this unknown, imaginary look. I want to develop this conecpt further a it creates this surreal characteristic of the photo. It highlights this concept of ‘in the moment’ as your prensted with something unclear leading to your unclear judgement.

Leiter began to explore colour by 1948, with his main subjects being street scenes and his close circle of friends. Looking at streets around New York City 1950, he created a project in which he explored the very busy and hectic hustle and bustle of the streets, showing this through abstract forms and original compositions to street photography. This creates a unique concept behind his approach as he looks

What inspired me of his work is this busy and hectic feel that’s created, through visually seeing his bold compositions displayed through colour, lines, reflections, subjects. This reminds me of magazine covers as images are brought together in ways which portray some kind of story,

I love the abstract look about his photographs, with really bold uses of block colours that outline the structure, shown through shapes and lines. I feel this really creates an interesting and unique photo as we are displayed something different each time because the moment when its captures will never be seen like this again. The unique angles being captured through reflections in windows, to the weather conditions, how people are dressed and presented

Colour Collection

I love the abstract look about his photographs, with really bold uses of block colours that outline the structure, shown through shapes and lines. I feel this really creates an interesting and unique photo as we are displayed something different each time because the moment when its captures will never be seen like this again. The unique angles being captured through reflections in windows, to the weather conditions, how people are dressed and presented, through a whole , creates this intersting conecpt as its a diffeemt unusaul view.

Created collection/ categroires in which he fit his photoshoto into. visual elements – further develope this in my own style

https://www.saulleiterfoundation.org/color

These photos specifically showed contrast that the colours and compositions create

https://www.saulleiterfoundation.org/biography

This photo appeals to me a we are given a montage of people, through reflections.

This photo is part of Leiter’s fashion photography displayed in Harper’s Bazaar, but also a part of ‘Colour’ (one of Saul Leiter’s collection.) I love this photo, and its expressive interesting forms. The way the subjects creates these unique focal points all throughout are shown with three different peoples perspectives. One in the background, second in the mid ground and third in the foreground. This creates an interesting concept. As the main focal point the women in the blue jacket drawns us in straight away to creating interesting silhouette figures, filled with colour.

We straight away see an old yellow car with a woman standing in front looking very fashionable. The natural lighting is used with the rain and wet weather elevating the colours creating unique contrast between the focal points – the yellow car and women in blue coat. I really perfectly describes a unique composition as they create unique shadows, texture, forms emphasising the outlines and silhouettes of people and cars. Alongside this, we are presented with an interesting depth of field that’s not noticeable straight away because your drawn to the contrasting central focus (the car and person in blue dress). But when looking closer at the photo, two more people are actually shown, but only their outline creating this interesting silhouette in the background. With this interesting depth of field, they are still part of the background so not the main focus. They instead create interesting shapes and structure as they’re out of focus. These visual elements overall make a really interesting photo, emphasising even more contrast in colour, showing this structural and defined look. The visual elements of tone, colour, pattern, line, shape, work together to create this interesting compositional photo.

This photo is captured without being staged, showing you the real reality of behind the scenes in a way which you

Saul Leiter creates this interesting perception through visual elements such as colour, tone shape, pattern and composition. This photo displays old cars, people within the streets all that are all different. showing this documentary

In response to Saul leither i am ispired by his compositions and formations show through lines, shapes, structure, shadows, and reflections. I am goijng to incorpoate these elements in my work through looking at

https://www.saulleiterfoundation.org/color

https://independent-photo.com/news/the-unseen-saul-leiter