In early December, an interview documentary film will be released, offering insight into the essence of life through the lens of photographer Saul Leiter.
Saul Leiter, who has lived and photographed New York's Lower East Side since 1952, was one of the pioneers of color photography, having been active since the late 1940s. In 1953, his work was selected for the Museum of Modern Art's "Always the Young Stranger" exhibition, and he subsequently appeared on the covers of famous fashion magazines such as Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. However, in the 1980s, when commercialism began to take over from artistic merit, he disappeared from the public eye.
However, in 2006, Steidl Verlag published his first collection of works, "Early Color," a collection of previously unreleased personal photographs. It was enthusiastically received worldwide as a "rediscovery of a master" at over 80 years old, and retrospectives and publications followed in numerous countries. The photographs, capturing casual street scenes, have a depth that seems to capture the atmosphere of the city itself, and their light, color, and composition display a unique individuality.
The film begins with an interview at Saul Leiter's home/studio and progresses along the flow of his daily life. In a room overflowing with possessions, casually matching a checked shirt with a checked scarf, Saul Leiter makes slightly sarcastic remarks with a straight face. He gives the impression of being stubborn and stubborn, but his subsequent, paused smiles repeatedly dispel that impression.
As he once said, "I find photographing rain-soaked windows more interesting than photographing celebrities," he occasionally goes out into the city to photograph subjects anyone could choose: people who happen to be passing by, children, cats, birds, and landscapes. His slow movements due to his advanced age sometimes cause him to miss a photo opportunity, which is humorous. It's surprising to see how warmly and naturally this world-famous "master" photographs, blending seamlessly into the landscape.
He and his assistant try to tidy up the studio, but it's still a mess. He discovers the vast amount of film and his wife's belongings, picks them up, and reminisces as if talking to himself. Leaving the room overflowing with possessions, Saul Leiter says, "The important thing in life isn't what you acquire, it's what you throw away," and smiles again. The appeal of Saul Leiter and this film lies in the sense that we encounter a deeply moving view of life, interspersed here and there by a master of photography—or rather, a hunched-over old man.
Why does Saul Leiter's work resonate so deeply with us today, when technology has made photography so accessible? His life story speaks to us tenderly through the medium of film.
"Photographer Saul Leiter: 13 Things I Learned from a Slow Life" is scheduled to begin screening in early December. It will be released at Theater Image Forum and other theaters nationwide.
