Street photographer

Saul Leiter

Early life

• Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 3rd,

1923.

• He was given his first camera by his mother in 1935.

• He had more of an old fashion style.

• He was given his first camera at the age of 13.

• He was also a painter but photography to him could

not compare to painting.

• He started as a fashion photographer.

• “In order to build a career and to be successful, one has

to be determined. One has to be ambitious. I much

prefer to drink coffee, listen to music… I prefer so many

things than plotting how to conquer the world.”

LIFE

• He photographed the same neighborhood he grew up in for 55 years.

• In 1946, Leiter moved to New York intending to just be a painter but through a friendship

with an abstract expressionist, Richard Pousette-Dart, he then realized his potential in

photography.

• Saul followed the same theory in life as Frank Sinatra’s song, “I Did it My Way” which cause

people to think that is the reason he was discovered so late in his life.

• His photographs can be seen in The Museum of Modern Art, The National Gallery of Art, The

Victoria and Albert Museum, and The Whitney Museum of American Art.

• Saul died at the age of 89.

• “I must admit that I am not a member of the ugly school. I have a great regard for certain

notions of beauty even though to some it is an old fashioned idea. Some photographers think

that by taking pictures of human misery, they are addressing a serious problem. I do not

think that misery is more profound than happiness.” 

Style of Photography: Street

Title: ToyshopYear: 1950’sEdition: 3/25Size: 35 x 28 cm

Title: KimYear: 1947Edition: 25Size: 20 x 25 cm

Title: ScarfYear: 1948 Edition: 5/25 Size: 35 x 28 cm

Title: NunsYear: 1949Size: 23 x 33 cm

Title: MannequinYear: 1959 Edition: of 10Size: 50 x 40 cm

Title: PackageYear: 1960Edition: of 10Size: 50 x 40 cm

Title: BaseballYear: 1953Edition: of 10Size: 50 x 40 cm

Title: AntYear: 1950Edition: of 10Size: 50 x 40 cm

Title: The Unseen Eye Year: 1958Edition: 51Size: 24 x 19 cm

Title: ?Year: ?Edition: 25Size: 20 x 25 cm

EMULATION

EMULATION

References

• "Art." Fabrik Media. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. http://fabrik.la/saul-leiter/

• Web. 1 Apr. 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/nov/29/saul-leiter>.

• "FIFTY ONE Fine Art Photography Gallery - Artists." FIFTY ONE Fine Art Photography Gallery - Artists.

Web. 10 Apr. 2015. <http://www.gallery51.com/index.php?navigatieid=9&fotograafid=15>.

• "A Casual Conversation with Saul Leiter | LightBox | TIME.com." LightBox. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.

<http://lightbox.time.com/2013/02/19/a-casual-conversation-with-saul-leiter/#1>.