1. Select an Artist

 

“Sometimes I’m amazed by how much you can do as a photographer.”

“A window covered with raindrops interests me more than a photograph of a famous person.”

— Saul Leiter

 

Lines: In these photographs, lines are often used as an outline to separate the photo into two parts, in which one part is where the main subject is placed, and the rest is negative space. These lines create directions. They are often placed near the main subject, which led viewers’ eyes directly to the subject. You can see that in Picture 2, 6, 8, and 9.

Shapes: Saul Leiter likes to have an object in front of the camera and block parts of the photo. These objects are usually in one shape, mostly rectangles. Some of Saul Leiter’s photographs have more negative space than the space for the main subject, for example, Picture 1, 7, 8, and 9. However, the negative space—created by shapes—puts focus on the subject itself, emphasizing its importance and making viewers pay more attention to it.

Colors: Although Saul Leiter’s photographs do not have many colors, they often have a contrast. When other colors are basically the same, there is always an object that breaks the balance, making a contrast. For instance, the taxi in Picture 4 is yellow and green, which is different from the blueish style it has. It catches viewers’ eyes and lets people notice the man in front of the car. In addition, Picture 3, 7, and 8 also show the same idea about the use of colors.

Tone: Saul Leiter’s photographs often have a dark tone, but, at the same time, he also likes to use light to highlight the main subject. In Picture 2, the color of the photo is basically dark, but the light through the window draws the outline of people. The light in there played a role in highlighting the main subject. Picture 1, 5, and 9 also demonstrate the same idea.

Focus: As I mentioned before, Saul Leiter likes to have an object in front of the camera to emphasize the main subject. The object at the front is usually off-focus since it should keep viewers’ attention on the main subject instead of itself. This idea is best represented in Picture 7 and 9.

I have chosen this photographer mainly because I like his idea of having an object “blocking” the main subject. It is not only a way to draw viewers’ eyes to the subject but also creates contrast in many aspects. Furthermore, it also relates to my vision by including the idea of colors. Saul Leiter’s photographs inspired me to capture and present colors in our lives in another way.

 

2. Respond to an Image

I choose this image because the red umbrella caught my attention when I first looked at it and I am really interested in this photograph. Something that surprised me is how Saul Leiter contains colors in it. The umbrella’s red color echoes the car’s red in the background behind it and contrasts with the dark night.

The formal element that I think is most important in this photograph is the focus. In this photo, only the subject, the red umbrella, is in focus, which emphasized its importance in the picture. Without this, the image would not have the same feeling to the audience. In addition, this photo shows the beauty of a common object, an umbrella, and the color of the umbrella further makes the photograph abstract. This also applied to Saul Leiter’s other photographs, but the elements that make them abstract would be different, it may be lights, colors, or shapes.

I like the style specifically because of the way that Saul Leiter used to present colors in his images. They are not colorful, but they are highly contrasting, which creates a different emotion from what Ola Kolehmainen’s photographs gave me previously. I will adapt this style to my own photography by looking at only one color and setting it as the main color/tone when taking my photographs. This artist inspired me to look at layers in photographs, which means I will look for an object and placed it in front of my camera to highlight the subject when taking photos.

 

3. Revise My Vision

My original statement of intent (vision):

The message of my triptych will be find the colors in everyday life. A combination of colors and simple subject(s) that we often see in our daily life, which is always ignore by us. “Color” combining with “simple”, the powerful and mysterious feels when audience looking at my triptych is what kind of emotional response that I am hoping for. I will get inspiration and develop my ideas by looking for photographs that show strong colors and/or explore compositions of formal elements, such as lines and shapes (main ones that I am looking for). A part of life that we cannot lose is color, another part is lines and shapes. When two parts combine, it creates our daily life, yet, these elements that creates they, again, “disappear” in our life. However, when you carefully observe them, you will find out that they form such a beautiful frame.

My vision for set 1:

My vision is to capture colors and compositions in real life, mainly on larger buildings. Find a contrast or a balance between a series of colors in my photographs, showing the charm of large buildings or simple subjects with a simple background. I will take photos in the style of Ola Kolehmainen, who is an expert in the use of colors. I am particularly inspired by Are You Talking To Me and will try to take pictures that express excellent compositions of architecture and its interaction with colors.

My original statement of intent focuses more on strong colors and combinations with simple subjects, and my vision for set 1 is focuses on colors in large architecture. These two visions are both different from what I want to do for my set 2; however, I still want to show colors in my photographs, and the things that I am going to change this time are the tone and focus.

Revised Vision Statement:

My vision is to capture the colors of common objects that we often see in our life. I will take photos in the style of Saul Leiter. I am particularly inspired by Red Umbrella and will try to take pictures that highlight my subject in different ways, such as creating contrast between colors, having a different tone in one picture, and using focus to blur out objects in front of my camera and focus my subject, emphasizing its importance.