Shoot In The Style Of: Saul Leiter
By Liam Robertson
About the photographer
Saul Leiter was born on December 3, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, and he passed away on November 26, 2013, aged 89, in New York City. Leiter was a photographer and painter, known for his early adoption of colour photography, his unique, innovative, and evocative compositions, and his contribution to what would become known as the New York School of Photography.
Why I chose Leiter
When looking for a photographer to do this project, I knew I wanted to choose a street photographer. However, when looking through the works of famous street photographers, I didn’t find myself particularly drawn to or captivated by any one of them, that was until I stumbled upon Saul Leiter. His colour images stood out among the black-and-white images of other early street photographers. I instantly loved the soft colour palettes and the different way colours drew the eye to different elements. I also really liked some of his compositions, where he captures people and their surroundings, showing off the bustling New York Streets. I think I was already interested in those types of compositions as demonstrated in my own Lived In Series, but Leiter takes it to a whole other level, especially with his heavy use of foreground, windows and reflections, which I feel add complexity and energy.
The photos I chose
I chose three of Leiter’s photos to try and recreate and/or act as my main inspiration for his style. The Photos, titled Paris, 1959, Harlem, 1960, and Near the Tanager, 1954, are the photos featured above in that order. In Paris, 1959, the photo is shot through a window which is a simple way to add a layer of complexity, you can even see Leiter’s reflection in the top right. The eye is first drawn to the woman, then to where she is looking, and then to the almost still life on the table. For Harlem, 1960, The Leiter shows the subject in their surroundings. The lighter tones of the man’s outfit combined with the more vibrant and contrasting reds and blue in the background create a pleasing colour palette. As for Near the Tanager, 1954, the use of reflections, foreground, and the essentially silhouette subject make it a complex and interesting photo.
The Photos I Shot
When shooting in the style of Leiter, I tried less to recreate exact shots and more to capture the essentials of his style and the visual elements he incorporated. I ended up producing 3 images that I was satisfied with. I’ve titled them Walking, Petunia, and Coffee Shop, in the order they are displayed below.
For Walking I decided to shoot my subjects through the reflection of a heavily tinted window I found to try. The decision to capture multiple people was more about opportunity than a preferred choice, however, I feel the one woman looking at the camera through the window Isolates her in the shot. I don’t feel that I used the background as effectively as in Near the Tanager, though the inclusion of the lights in the frame adds a level of complexity.
For my second image Petunia, named after the subject, with whom I had a conversation, I tried to show a person in their surroundings like Leiter’s Harlem. I chose this building because to shoot because of the neon red sign and contrasting green paint. I chose to shoot my subject when a car was passing to add a foreground element and show them partially through. I window, a common practice for Leiter. However, in hindsight, the motion blur was unnecessary, while I think it might look good judged on its own, it is not a common element in Saul Leiter’s photos.
For my third image, Coffee Shop, I chose to photograph my subject through a window, while also adding some foreground elements, with the wall on the left and the car in the bottom half. Again, the motion blur was unnecessary, though it added a second layer of glass with some reflections like before. Additionally, Leiter’s style would have been better captured if the shot was wider, showcasing more surroundings.
Overall I’d say I achieved success in recreating Leiter’s style, with some minor improvements to be made with specific aspects.
