Another great photographer discovered, Saul Leither was born in 1928 and began taking pictures from an early age. In 1948, he began taking color photographs and his portfolio of color images is what drew me to this man. Saul helped formed “The New York School” of photographers in the 1940s and 1950s. The New York School refers to a loosely defined group of photographers who lived and worked in New York City during the 30s, 40s and 50s. They shared influences, subjects and stylistic earmarks. They were basically street photographers who had other day jobs (working for magazines etc). As I mentioned in one of earlier posts, clearly no one has ever made money from being a street photographer. Leither also worked as a fashion photographer and was published in a number of well know fashion magazines. The interesting thing about his work is the painterly quality to his color images. While researching his life, I discovered that he had developed an early interest in painting and had actually moved to New York to become an artist.
He is quoted as saying in an interview “I started out as a fashion photographer. One cannot say that I was successful but there was enough work to keep me busy. I collaborated with Harper’s Bazaar and other magazines. I had work and I made a living. At the same time, I took my own photographs.
I spent a great deal of my life being ignored. I was always very happy that way. Being ignored is a great privilege. That is how I think I learnt to see what others do not see and to react to situations differently. I simply looked at the world, not really prepared for anything”
I find that to be a very unique perspective and something i can so relate to it. In many ways, being ignored freed him to do what he did best. His color images are very vibrant and the colors are brilliantly saturated. Each one of his images brings a new perspective to it. I especially love the images that he has taken through frosted windows and glass. It’s something I enjoy doing as well. I like to be able to take images with my car window up (it has a interesting polarizing affect) and though shop windows, mirrors and other reflective objects.
Some of his images also have a wonderfully abstract quality to it; you can just make out that it’s the edge of an umbrella, the reflection of a car, the silhouette of a person through a store window. And the colours. Oh the colors. Outstanding.