I’ve been focusing more on street photography this year, and with that, have also been building my collection of photo books for ongoing inspiration. A few weeks ago, I purchased Saul Leiter: A Centennial Retrospective, and it stopped me in my tracks multiple times as I flipped through the pages.
Saul was a New York–based photographer in the mid-20th century who took most of his photos while walking around the few blocks near his apartment. He was also an avid painter, committing to daily paintings for most of his adult life.
I think his foundation in painting was the key difference between him and some of the other popular photographers of the era. Instead of focusing on specific subjects, he had the extraordinary ability to capture beautiful images with incredible composition, lighting, and depth, yet they always looked so effortless.
His photos informed his art, his art informed his photography, and he combined them into an uncanny ability to notice these perfect moments.
Combine those skillsets, mix them into a romantic 50s and 60s New York City, and apparently that’s the mix for my favorite photographer.
There’s something special about buying one of these books and being able to enjoy the results of someone’s lifetime of work. I’m so used to looking at photography on digital screens that I’d forgotten how much better it feels to flip through a photobook. I recommend giving it a shot.
If you’re looking for other photographers in from this era that are unique in their own ways, I would check out Ernst Haas, Fred Herzog, and Harry Gruyaert.