Product Description

Saul Leiter (b. 1923) is one of those photographers who seek neither fame nor commercial success, despite their talent for imagemaking. Born in Pittsburgh, he spent the 1940s and 1950s in New York, in an intensely creative environment where ideas from Europe and America came together and intermingled. There he encountered Rothko and the Abstract Expressionists, and discovered street photography and the work of Cartier-Bresson. His mastery of color is displayed in unconventional cityscapes in which reflections, transparency, complex framing and mirroring effects are married to a very personal printing style, creating a unique urban view.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130428 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780500410974
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Max Kozloff is a writer and art critic. He lives in New York.

Customer Reviews

Amzing images from an underated artist
"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." Saul Leiter.

The other day a package arrived from London. It was the Saul Leiter book "Reprint" by Steidl. After going through the Walker Evans book last week, the sense of the city was strong, gritty and in some ways, a sad reality.

Looking through this book tonight was a whole other reality.
By shooting the city with a painterly eye, and often using outdated film, Saul Leiter presents a view of the city from the subjects possible view.
The photographs felt oddly familiar to me as a photographer. There were subtle colors setting a scene with a mood that was honest. Not raw reality, but honest to a feeling, even weather wise
Rare is it that an image can translate the muggy feel,and the muted colors emphasizing the seasonal closeness of the city.


The book came out last spring and was an immediate sellout. And with most photo books, other than an Annie Leibowitz, the runs are fairly limited. Could be a little tough to find. Like we said, ours came from the UK, and was less expensive than anywhere in the states.

I do urge you to find the book, learn about the photographer and enjoy a new vision from years ago.

These photographs were "re-discovered" by Mr. Leiter when he pulled them out in the 90's and began printing them.

Small note: he was included by curator Edward Steichen in 2 shows on color photography at MOMA in the 50's but he declined to be a part of the Family of Man exhibit when invited.
Last year he was honored with a show at Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson. yes, he is still with us at 84 years old.

Some books explore, others confirm, but this one stopped me in my tracks.

A gem, whether you already know Leiter's work or not
Saul Leiter's photography reveals an urban world of rich, yet understated colours and abstract shapes. In some photos, he focuses on a reflective surface or the layer of condensation on a window, causing the objects or people behind them to appear fluid, disjointed or overlaid with a mosaic or other pattern. His black and white work explores juxtapositions, shapes and overlaid surfaces.

I was apprehensive about buying this slim volume of Leiter's work, having recently purchased a copy of another collection of his photos: 'Early Color'. My concern was that there would be too much overlap. I need not have worried. Although about a third of the works in this collection of 64 photos also appear in 'Early Color', the entire book is superb. Moreover, about 25 of the images are of his black and white photos, with which I was entirely unacquainted.

So, what should you do if you are mainly interested in Leiter's colour photography and are hesitating between this and 'Early Color'? If money is no object (and if 'Early Color' is still available, for I do not expect it to remain in print forever), I would recommend choosing 'Early Color'. Although the reproductions in this Photofile book are good, the slightly less bright paper of 'Early Color' better suits Leiter's muted colours. However, if you are budget-conscious or are looking for a selection that includes his monochrome work, this book would be the obvious choice. And if you already own 'Early Color' and are considering another volume of Leiter's wonderful photography, do not hesitate -- this book is a gem.

Wonderful, newly "discovered" photographer
This is the most comprehensive look at the photography of Saul Leiter who started out as a fashion photographer but has become known as one the great street photographers. This contains around 50 color images (including several which do not appear anywhere else0 and 50 black & white images. They are beautifully printed and show the streets of New York taken with his distinct eye and sense of composition. Highly recommended for documentary photography fans and those interested in color photography.