Kodachrome and Ektachrome color slide films

This exhibition helped to solidify his status as a key figure in the history of photography and brought his work to a wider audience. In 2006, a major retrospective of Leiter's work was held at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson in Paris. Despite this, his work was included in the groundbreaking exhibition 'The Family of Man' at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1955, which showcased the best in photography from around the world.

Some of Saul Leiter's most iconic images were taken during the 1950s and 1960s, a period when color photography was still considered inferior to black-and-white. He also made extensive use of overexposure and deliberate soft focus to create a painterly effect in his photographs. Leiter was known for shooting through windows or using other objects to frame his subjects, resulting in abstract and layered images. His photos often featured reflections, shadows, and blurred subjects, giving them a dreamlike quality. He had a keen eye for color and composition, using these elements to create images that evoke an emotional response. Saul Leiter's photographic style is often described as poetic and painterly. Despite his commercial success, he continued to pursue his love for street photography, capturing the essence of New York City's streets through his unique lens. Leiter's work was first published in Life magazine, and soon after, he became a successful fashion photographer, working for magazines such as Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. There, he became part of the New York School of Photography, alongside photographers like Robert Frank and Diane Arbus. However, his passion for the arts led him to abandon his religious studies and move to New York City in the late 1940s. His distinctive style, characterized by the use of color, abstraction, and an emphasis on the beauty of everyday moments, has made him a revered figure in the world of photography.īorn in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Leiter originally pursued a career in the rabbinate, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a rabbi and scholar. Saul Leiter (1923-2013) was an American photographer and painter, best known for his pioneering work in color street photography.

Saul leiter photography