Artist: Saul Leiter

Saul Leiter (December 3, 1923 – November 26, 2013) was an American photographer and painter whose early work in the 1940s and 1950s was an important contribution to what came to be recognized as the New York school of photography (Wikipedia).

Societal Context:
Saul Leiter’s work reflects the social context of the mid-20th century in New York City. He captured the urban environment and its inhabitants, showcasing the bustling streets, the diversity of the city, and the everyday moments of its people. Leiter’s photographs often depicted scenes with reflections, offering a different perspective on the city and its inhabitants. The societal context of his work encompassed the cultural, social, and economic dynamics of post-war America.

Historical Context:
Leiter’s work was influenced by the historical context of his time. He started his career in the 1940s and continued through the 1950s and beyond. This period marked significant shifts in society and photography. In terms of photography, it transitioned from black and white to color photography more widely accessible. Leiter’s photograph captured the essence of New York City during this era, showcasing the changing landscapes, architectural developments, and the impact of modernization on urban life.

Biographical Context:
Saul Leiter’s biographical context played a role in shaping his artistic vision. Born in 1923, he was exposed to various influences throughout his life. He had a background in painting and studied under the renowned abstract expressionist teacher Hans Hofmann. This background likely influenced his approach to composition, color, and abstraction in his photographs. Leiter was also known to be a private and introspective individual, and his introspective nature may have influenced the contemplative and reflective quality of his work.

Psychological Context:
When looking at Saul Leiter’s photographs, viewers may experience a range of emotions and states of mind. The use of reflections adds layers of complexity and intrigue to the photographs, creating a dreamlike quality that can evoke a sense of wonder or thought. The interplay of light, color, and composition in Leiter’s work can also evoke a sense of serenity and tranquility,  depending on the individual viewer’s interpretation.

This photo connects to the societal and historical change in New York, the variety of color shows the clear evolution of color photography. The shift into an urban city is also shown in this photo; for example the street lights, the shops behind the people, and the clothing of the people.

Visual

This is a photo in Saul Leiter’s “Reflections, New York” series. The focus of this photo is on the reflections of the two walking by. The lights on top are very bright, and the reflection is very soft. The white part in the distance is the light part of this composition. The plant inside the window created interesting shapes and patterns, creating another layer beyond the reflections. The black part around is the negative shape, creating a frame and contrasting with the main subject.  This image created a “soft and smooth” texture because the reflections and the shapes shown are not sharp, making the image harmonic and balanced. The tone is relatively dark, the light and white shops behind are the lighter areas. Although this photo is dark, there are a variety of colors. The person wearing orange created contrast with the darkish-blue tone, which emphasized the person walking by. Moreover, this photo follows the composition of the rule of thirds, putting the people in the left-center.

Technical

The lights used in this photo are daylight and street lights. The focal point is focused on the plant, blurring the people walking. The people are relatively clear, so the shutter speed should be fast. Also, the photo is soft, dark, and not as pixelated, so we can guess that the ISO is kind of low. The temperature of the background is a bit cold, but there are many orange/warm-colored objects.

How Does the image inspire?

This image inspired me by showing how reflection is incorporated into street photography. I like the use of color in this photo, the composition, and how he chose the surroundings. It also inspired me as it shows how to create frames of the window, changing different perspectives.