Photographer’s Gallery: Saul Leiter

 

TITLE OF EXHIBITION: Saul Leiter

NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER(S) ON SHOW: Saul Leiter

• What is a common thread running through the exhibition?
  • Saul Leiter is an impressionistic photographer who uses his flaneuristic abilities to capture mood and mystery in his photography. There is a lot of use of color in this exhibit because during his time, color photography was not as common. This meant that capturing it had to be unique. There is fluidity to all of the photographs because its seems as if everything bleeds together. There are also a lot of reflections and shadows used to create depth and exploit the different textures that happen in the world naturally. There is also ideas of postmodernism and the question of identity in the exhibit. Most photographs were taken on the street and of New York.

• What defines the photographer’s style? What do the images have in common, in terms of both subject matter and technique/style?
  • Leiter used bold colors, exploited textures and tried to question identity. He used lines and framing to highlight the subjects within the photo. Due to the number of his photos being taken on the streets and people living their lives, his style is bold and documentary. He is trying to capture life in an instant. His photography is observational while using strong contrasts, lights and shadows, with large areas out of focus.

• If you could, what question would you ask the photographer in order to get a better understanding of his/her work?
  • I would ask him about how he is able to capture reflections so well. The techniques that determine not only how to photograph them, but also when and why to capture them.

NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER: Saul Leiter

TITLE OF PHOTOGRAPH: Untitled (Girl and Reflection)

YEAR PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN: Date Unknown, Gelatin silver print: Printed c. 1970

 

• What is your personal reaction to the photograph?
  • When I first saw this photograph I was imedietly drawn to it because somehow it was so different than the rest, but still flowed and fit to Leiter style and message. I am also attracted to the use of reflection and how the the girl’s face looks different depending on which one the viewer looks at. It is also in black and white which was not common in this exhibition. I feel as if I am there with this girl.

• Identify and describe one compositional aspect or photographic attribute (e.g., framing, point of view, shapes, lines, use of light etc.)
  • The point of view that Leiter used to capture this girl is crucial to the photographs impact. Without it, there would be no reflection or at least one that allows the viewer to see two different sides to this girl. It also highlights upon and postmodern approach to questioning identity. The point of view is from eye level and is straight on with the subject. Sometimes my eyes is drawn first to the real face and others the reflection. The background also does not matter as much as the foreground. The focus is on this girl and her reflection.

• Identify and describe the meaning of the image. What message is the photographer trying to convey? What story is being told?
  • The most impact from this piece is that the the girl is not looking in the direction of her reflection. It is not as if she is interacting with it, but the viewer is. This means that the girl does not know how her reflection is being portraited. It is a relationship between Leiter and her reflection. The meaning of this image is that even though one might not realize, the world around us not only interacts with our tangible nature, but the reflections we leave everywhere. Whether we know it is there or not, like a shadow, a reflection and a mirror of who we are will always be there. However, it might not always be the most trustworthy answer of representation.