How To Do Abstract Street Photography Like Saul Leiter
TLDRThe video explores the unconventional style of photographer Saul Leiter. It examines how Leiter created abstract, layered images that broke conventions - using colors, reflections, condensation, and everyday scenes as subjects. The script discusses Leiter's influences like French painter Pierre Bonnard and Japanese ukiyo-e art. It then explains techniques Leiter used - vertical compositions, off-centered subjects, subframing with foreground elements. The video host tries these methods in Toronto, photographing rainy windows, distorted reflections, negative space, and nostalgic scenes to emulate Leiter's distinctive aesthetic.
Takeaways
- 😃 Saul Lighter was an unconventional photographer who broke conventions with his unique style
- 📷 He took candid photos of everyday scenes in New York and experimented with color photography
- 🌇 His style was influenced by painting, especially the Nabis group and Japanese art
- 🔍 He used layers, reflections and fragments to create abstract images from reality
- 🎨 He wanted to turn scenes into flat surfaces covered in colors like a painting
- 🖼️ He used anchors like people or cars to help orient the viewer in the abstraction
- ⛱️ He liked shooting in poor weather and obscuring elements like umbrellas
- 🎞️ He often shot vertically, used longer lenses, and favored saturated reds and yellows
- 😕 He was overlooked for much of his life and only gained recognition late in his career
- 💡 His photographs teach us to see everyday life in a new, creative and unconventional way
Q & A
Who was Saul Leiter and what kind of photography did he do?
-Saul Leiter was an American photographer born in 1923 known for his early experimentation with color photography and fragmented, layered compositions of everyday street life in New York City.
How did Saul Leiter's background in painting influence his photography?
-Leiter continued painting while pursuing photography, and was influenced by abstract post-Impressionist painters like the Nabis. This led him to see photographs not as depictions of reality, but abstract arrangements of colors, shapes and visual metaphors.
What techniques did Saul Leiter use to create abstract images?
-Leiter used layering of foreground elements, shooting through windows, playing with reflections, condensation, and colors (especially saturated reds and yellows) to distort reality into fragmented compositions.
Why are anchors important in Saul Leiter's images?
-Anchors like recognizable subjects, street signs, or lights, help ground the viewer and make sense of Leiter's otherwise very abstracted scenes.
How did the video creator attempt to emulate Saul Leiter's style?
-He shot candid scenes of urban life using layering techniques and colors Leiter favored. He shot through wet/foggy windows, played with reflections, used umbrellas to block and frame subjects, and looked for nostalgic elements as anchors.
Why does the video creator say winter is a good time to emulate Leiter's style?
-Winter weather allows for obscuring elements Leiter liked such as hats, umbrellas and condensation. Also heavier coats appear more timeless than summer wear.
How does the convex glass bridge shape allow creative compositions?
-The upper panels get wetter than lower panels due to the angle, allowing the creator to play with differences in clarity and transparency between upper and lower frame.
Why does the creator say an entirely black blocked out subject looks wrong?
-A solid black line blocking a subject makes it seem like a camera malfunction versus an intentional creative choice.
What role do the designated drinking areas play in the winter shots?
-The thick plastic tent sheets distorting the background helped the creator frame people in red passing across the foreground.
What is Saul Leiter's perspective on photography summed up?
-Leiter believes photography is not about depicting what or where something is, but how you uniquely see it and transform it through your own perspective.
Outlines
📸 Saul Leiter's Revolutionary Photography
This section introduces Saul Leiter, a photographer who defied conventions of photography to create captivating, abstract images. Born in Pittsburgh in 1923 into an Orthodox Jewish family, Leiter initially pursued painting after moving to New York, only to later embrace photography under the influence of his artist peers. While working as a fashion photographer, Leiter continued to explore Manhattan with his camera, developing a personal body of work known for its use of color at a time when black and white photography was the norm for artistic expression. His approach, influenced by his background in painting and admiration for post-impressionistic painters like Pierre Bonnard and the Nabis, focused on abstracting reality into metaphors and symbols, often through fragmented, layered compositions reminiscent of Japanese art. Despite his unique vision, Leiter remained relatively obscure until a resurgence of interest in his work in the late 20th century.
🎨 Emulating Leiter's Abstract Vision
This paragraph discusses the technique of creating abstract images from everyday life, inspired by Saul Leiter's methodology. It highlights Leiter's practice of using layering to create depth and complexity in his photographs, often through subframing and incorporating elements like reflections, fogged glass, and raindrops. The use of longer lenses for compression, the importance of anchors to provide context within the abstraction, and Leiter's preference for saturated colors, especially reds and yellows, are also mentioned. The narrative then shifts to the author's attempt to replicate Leiter's style in Toronto, using digital photography with old manual lenses to capture the essence of Leiter's work, including the use of specific photographic triggers like hats, umbrellas, and certain color palettes.
🚇 Capturing the Essence of Everyday Life
This segment details the author's photographic journey, emphasizing the use of reflections and layering to achieve a Saul Leiter-inspired aesthetic. The exploration begins with finding compelling compositions at a bus stop and a movie theater, focusing on disorienting reflections and vintage elements. The narrative then transitions to a subway station, where an unexpected service shutdown provides an opportunity to practice sub-framing and capture reflections of people against dark backgrounds, highlighting the use of color and light in creating depth. Despite the challenges of capturing people and the desired atmospheric conditions, the author perseveres, showcasing the ongoing effort to emulate Leiter's unique approach to photography.
🌨️ Winter's Atmospheric Potential
In this paragraph, the narrative captures the author's experiences photographing Toronto's urban landscape during winter, aiming to replicate Saul Leiter's atmospheric and abstract imagery. Visits to notable locations like the Eaton Center pedestrian bridge and a Christmas market provide opportunities to experiment with reflections, negative space, and the interplay of light and color through the use of rain and snow. Anchors such as traffic lights and streetcars are utilized to connect the viewer with familiar elements amidst the abstraction. The author's creative process, including the strategic use of an umbrella for subframing and achieving a desired effect, illustrates the continuous exploration of Leiter's techniques and themes, even in challenging weather conditions.
🍷 A Toast to Creative Exploration
The final segment of the script reflects on the author's journey through the streets and festivals of Toronto, attempting to channel Saul Leiter's perspective on photography. The narrative focuses on the use of an umbrella as a creative tool to mimic Leiter's style, along with the challenges and successes in capturing the essence of moments through abstract compositions. The exploration is marked by a contemplative approach to photography, emphasizing the importance of seeing beyond the immediate reality to uncover the abstract and metaphorical potential of everyday scenes. The author's experience highlights the enduring influence of Leiter's work and the continuous quest for artistic expression through photography.
🔍 Reflecting on Photographic Perception
This concluding statement encapsulates the core philosophy behind Saul Leiter's approach to photography, emphasizing the subjective interpretation and creative potential inherent in the medium. It serves as a reminder that photography transcends mere documentation of reality, inviting both the photographer and the viewer to engage in a deeper, more introspective exploration of the world through an abstract lens. The essence of Leiter's work lies in the way it challenges conventional perceptions, encouraging a unique and personal vision that reflects the photographer's individual perspective and artistic intent.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡photography
💡abstraction
💡layers
💡colors
💡framing
💡distortion
💡urban
💡nostalgia
💡unconventional
💡influence
Highlights
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Transcripts
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