What do you think?
Rate this book
All about Saul Leiter
An only-from-Japan exploration of the photographer’s art and philosophy.
Photography lovers the world over are now embracing Saul Leiter, who has enjoyed a remarkable revival since fading into relative obscurity in the 1980s. This collection takes a Japanese perspective into the secrets of his appeal, from his life philosophy and lyricism to masterful colors and compositions reminiscent of ukiyo-e.
Some two hundred works—including early street photographs, images for advertising, nudes, and paintings—cover Leiter’s career from the 1940s onward, accompanied by quotations from the artist himself that express his singular worldview.
Saul Leiter was born in 1923 in Pittsburgh. He pioneered a painterly approach to color photography in the 1940s and produced covers for fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar before largely withdrawing from public attention in the 1980s. The publication of his first collection, Early Color, by Steidl in 2006 inspired an avid “rediscovery” that has since led to worldwide exhibitions and the release of a documentary, In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter (2014). He died in New York in 2013.
size: 210 × 148 × 28 mm
binding: softcover
language: english/japanese
Photography lovers the world over are now embracing Saul Leiter, who has enjoyed a remarkable revival since fading into relative obscurity in the 1980s. This collection takes a Japanese perspective into the secrets of his appeal, from his life philosophy and lyricism to masterful colors and compositions reminiscent of ukiyo-e.
Some two hundred works—including early street photographs, images for advertising, nudes, and paintings—cover Leiter’s career from the 1940s onward, accompanied by quotations from the artist himself that express his singular worldview.
Saul Leiter was born in 1923 in Pittsburgh. He pioneered a painterly approach to color photography in the 1940s and produced covers for fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar before largely withdrawing from public attention in the 1980s. The publication of his first collection, Early Color, by Steidl in 2006 inspired an avid “rediscovery” that has since led to worldwide exhibitions and the release of a documentary, In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter (2014). He died in New York in 2013.
size: 210 × 148 × 28 mm
binding: softcover
language: english/japanese
314 pages, Hardcover
Published July 1, 2021
12 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Saul Leiter
26 books38 followersSaul Leiter was an American photographer and painter whose pioneering work in color photography and nuanced street scenes made him a central, though often underappreciated, figure of the New York school of photography. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Leiter initially pursued a religious path, studying to become a rabbi like his father, a renowned Talmudic scholar. However, by the age of 23, he left theology school and moved to New York City to become an artist.
Influenced early on by the Abstract Expressionist painter Richard Pousette-Dart and photographer W. Eugene Smith, Leiter soon turned to photography. He began with black-and-white images using a 35mm Leica and by 1948 had started experimenting with color photography—decades before it became widely accepted as an art form. His work from this period revealed a painterly sensitivity to light, form, and abstraction, setting him apart from the grittier, more confrontational style of many contemporaries such as Robert Frank48591 and William Klein. Instead, Leiter sought tranquility in the chaos of New York, often capturing poetic glimpses of life through fogged windows, reflections, and delicate color fields.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Leiter sustained his artistic practice through fashion photography, contributing to Harper’s Bazaar, Show, Elle, and British Vogue. His editorial work, though commercial, retained his distinct aesthetic sensibility and subtle sense of narrative.
Leiter’s contributions to photography remained relatively overlooked for much of his life, but later years brought a resurgence of interest. Edward Steichen had included him in a 1953 exhibition at MoMA, but it wasn't until the 1990s and 2000s that retrospectives and publications such as Early Color (2006), edited by Martin Harrison, reintroduced his remarkable body of work to new audiences. In 2008, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation hosted his first major European museum show. That same lyrical vision is the subject of the 2013 documentary In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter.
A prolific artist in both photography and painting, Leiter continued creating work until his death in New York City in 2013. His photographs are now part of major public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Often referred to as a quiet master, Saul Leiter left behind a singular vision—intimate, painterly, and timeless—that continues to inspire photographers and art lovers around the world.
Influenced early on by the Abstract Expressionist painter Richard Pousette-Dart and photographer W. Eugene Smith, Leiter soon turned to photography. He began with black-and-white images using a 35mm Leica and by 1948 had started experimenting with color photography—decades before it became widely accepted as an art form. His work from this period revealed a painterly sensitivity to light, form, and abstraction, setting him apart from the grittier, more confrontational style of many contemporaries such as Robert Frank48591 and William Klein. Instead, Leiter sought tranquility in the chaos of New York, often capturing poetic glimpses of life through fogged windows, reflections, and delicate color fields.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Leiter sustained his artistic practice through fashion photography, contributing to Harper’s Bazaar, Show, Elle, and British Vogue. His editorial work, though commercial, retained his distinct aesthetic sensibility and subtle sense of narrative.
Leiter’s contributions to photography remained relatively overlooked for much of his life, but later years brought a resurgence of interest. Edward Steichen had included him in a 1953 exhibition at MoMA, but it wasn't until the 1990s and 2000s that retrospectives and publications such as Early Color (2006), edited by Martin Harrison, reintroduced his remarkable body of work to new audiences. In 2008, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation hosted his first major European museum show. That same lyrical vision is the subject of the 2013 documentary In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter.
A prolific artist in both photography and painting, Leiter continued creating work until his death in New York City in 2013. His photographs are now part of major public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Often referred to as a quiet master, Saul Leiter left behind a singular vision—intimate, painterly, and timeless—that continues to inspire photographers and art lovers around the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 10, 2022
Viens no maniem mīļākajiem fotogrāfiem. Ne maz no viņa esmu iedvesmojusies, bildējot pilsētvidi. Viņš gan biežāk izvēlējies krāsu fotogrāfiju, man tuvāka melnbaltā, bet no viņa kadrējumiem esmu mācījusies daudz un dikti.
February 22, 2020
beautifully, terrifically dense, with some of leiter's most gorgeous photographs full bleed. text is minimal but impactful and thoughtfully placed. especially loved the essays at the end. wanted to devour this book in one sitting but knew it was special so I took my time with it. will return to it again and again and again.
March 24, 2024
Went through the whole thing at the Barnes foundation and had a really nice time with it 🫶👍
This man LOVES precipitation and the color red.
I want to do more photography.
This man LOVES precipitation and the color red.
I want to do more photography.
March 24, 2020
краса красива ❤️
May 16, 2022
Un precioso libro de fotografía. Las fotografías de Saul Leiter con ese aura de espectador casual de un mundo incompleto que se transforma en toda una intención. El texto de Saul Leiter reflexionando sobre la fotografía, cortas, dispersas, tan llenas humanidad. Y por último, las pinturas que también desarrolló junto a testo bibliográfico. Lo hacen un libro para abrir una y otra vez.
Para mí Saul Leiter es fotografía de calle, pero en este libro realmente hay mucho retrato también, incluso de estudio, pero con esa misma aura siempre o ese mismo buscar, forma de buscar.
Me ha gustado mucho y lo guardaré en la estantería cerca.
Para mí Saul Leiter es fotografía de calle, pero en este libro realmente hay mucho retrato también, incluso de estudio, pero con esa misma aura siempre o ese mismo buscar, forma de buscar.
Me ha gustado mucho y lo guardaré en la estantería cerca.
September 26, 2022
This book started my street photography obsession.
Describing words can’t do it justice so I suggest you go to your library, put on a noise cancelling headset and let yourself be immersed in Saul’s pictures.
Describing words can’t do it justice so I suggest you go to your library, put on a noise cancelling headset and let yourself be immersed in Saul’s pictures.
February 16, 2022
I had this book on my nightstand for quite a while and, now that I officially finished it, I feel like I need to start it again.
This is a awe-inspiring beautiful book of photography. Saul Leiter was a painter-photographer, both literal, as he wanted to become a painter, and figuratively. His photography is all about capturing the fleeting moment, the myriad of shadows, the colors. It also captures the spirit of the city in a way that makes me go to the train station and ride into NYC at right this moment. The energy and the stillness of if all, at the same time.
Brilliant body of work, absolutely recommended to any photography lover.
This is a awe-inspiring beautiful book of photography. Saul Leiter was a painter-photographer, both literal, as he wanted to become a painter, and figuratively. His photography is all about capturing the fleeting moment, the myriad of shadows, the colors. It also captures the spirit of the city in a way that makes me go to the train station and ride into NYC at right this moment. The energy and the stillness of if all, at the same time.
Brilliant body of work, absolutely recommended to any photography lover.
April 21, 2025
Het was in een boek van Teju Cole dat ik voor het eerst op de naam Saul Leiter stootte. Op internet ging ik op zoek naar de bijhorende beelden. Sindsdien behoort de man tot mijn absolute favorieten. Heel blij dan ook met dit fotoboek, waarvan ik wel het kleine formaat wat betreur. Ook op de selectie zelf is iets af te dingen. Zo beperkt het boek zich grotendeels tot zijn oeuvre van de jaren ’50. In die periode maakte hij weliswaar zijn sterkste werk, maar ook wat daarna nog kwam, was niet mis. Het ware leuk geweest – gezien de titel van het boek - mochten we ook daar een glimp van opvangen. De man leefde tenslotte tot 2013 en hield nooit op met fotograferen.
De samenstellers van het boek namen wel een aantal van zijn schilderijen op. Boeiend om ook daar een beeld van te krijgen. Die werken zijn niet slecht, maar steken niet boven het maaiveld uit. Had de schilder Saul Leiter niet besloten om ook de camera te hanteren, dan hadden we wellicht nooit van hem gehoord. De inclusie is echter vooral interessant, omdat zijn schilderblik – met een voorliefde voor het werk Pierre Bonnard en Edouard Vuillard – een sterke invloed had op zijn beeldtaal als fotograaf. (In zijn foto’s vangt hij het licht vooral via reflecties en legt hij vaak grote kleurvlakken vast.) Vaak heeft men meer het idee naar schilderijen dan naar foto’s te kijken.
Als toemaatje bevat dit boek drie prima (korte) essays, waarin o.a. ook de invloed van Japanse prentkunst (ukiyo-e) op zijn werk wordt toegelicht.
De samenstellers van het boek namen wel een aantal van zijn schilderijen op. Boeiend om ook daar een beeld van te krijgen. Die werken zijn niet slecht, maar steken niet boven het maaiveld uit. Had de schilder Saul Leiter niet besloten om ook de camera te hanteren, dan hadden we wellicht nooit van hem gehoord. De inclusie is echter vooral interessant, omdat zijn schilderblik – met een voorliefde voor het werk Pierre Bonnard en Edouard Vuillard – een sterke invloed had op zijn beeldtaal als fotograaf. (In zijn foto’s vangt hij het licht vooral via reflecties en legt hij vaak grote kleurvlakken vast.) Vaak heeft men meer het idee naar schilderijen dan naar foto’s te kijken.
Als toemaatje bevat dit boek drie prima (korte) essays, waarin o.a. ook de invloed van Japanse prentkunst (ukiyo-e) op zijn werk wordt toegelicht.
February 19, 2025
Νομίζω το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο πήρε την θέση ως το αγαπημένο βιβλίο φωτογραφίας που έχω διαβάσει. O Leiter έχει ένα ιδιαίτερο και διαχρονικό στυλ καλλιτεχνικής φωτογραφίας δρόμου που με αγγίζει. Τόσο τα χρώματά του όσα και το καδράρισμα που κάνει, σε συνδυασμό με τους ανθρώπους μιας παλαιότερης εποχής, σε κάνει να νοσταλγείς στιγμές που δεν ένιωσες με έναν περίεργο τρόπο καθώς. Πολύ αφηρημένο στυλ φωτογραφίας το οποίο δεν έχει χρονολογία λήξης. Είμαι σίγουρος πολύ έχουν επηρεαστεί απο τον Leiter για την φωτογραφία τους. Δεν θέλησε ποτέ να είναι στο προσκήνιο ούτε θεωρούσε τον εαυτό του καλλιτέχνη, παρόλα αυτά οι φωτογραφίες του έγιναν διάσημες και δημιουργήθηκε το leiter style στην φωτογραφία.
Όπως λέει και ο ίδιος "Οι φωτογραφίες είναι σουβενίρ ενός μυ ολοκληρωμένου κόσμου".
Όπως λέει και ο ίδιος "Οι φωτογραφίες είναι σουβενίρ ενός μυ ολοκληρωμένου κόσμου".
April 1, 2023
Good, contains many magical shots.
But.
splitting photographic art across two pages so that the middle of the opened book eats the topic of the image is dumb. Leiter’s paintings are a curiosity, but IMHO not sufficiently high quality to be included in the multitude they have been. Some of the chosen nudes are really good and some just tacky - if a Playboy page beats your nude in artistry, maybe raise the bar?
🤷🏼♂️
Contains a heap of legendary images, but IMHO after them also quite a bit of material feeling strangely like “filler”, considering the man had a treasure vault of shots 🤔
🤷🏼♂️
But I really liked the commentary accompanying the shots.
But.
splitting photographic art across two pages so that the middle of the opened book eats the topic of the image is dumb. Leiter’s paintings are a curiosity, but IMHO not sufficiently high quality to be included in the multitude they have been. Some of the chosen nudes are really good and some just tacky - if a Playboy page beats your nude in artistry, maybe raise the bar?
🤷🏼♂️
Contains a heap of legendary images, but IMHO after them also quite a bit of material feeling strangely like “filler”, considering the man had a treasure vault of shots 🤔
🤷🏼♂️
But I really liked the commentary accompanying the shots.
January 18, 2024
This definitely needs a few reads to fully appreciate it. The photography sections are quite dense and need time to process and enjoy every single detail and imperfection. The essay section at the end is also to enlightening and is one of the reason why a second read though will be necessary to gain a bigger perspective on Leiter’s body of work.
June 9, 2021
Atmospheric, I loved the sparse quotes interspersed throughout. Felt like the artist was showing you around his studio, not bogged down by essays by others (though there's some of that at the end for those who insist.) Lovely work.
April 29, 2022
Discovered this photographer through the documentary, In No Great Hurry. A fan ever since. This book is nicely slim on text, which, being a Japanese production, is pithy while not be overly self-important. Mostly it is simply tons a riveting photos - and some paintings -taken over half a century.
Read
February 22, 2023really love his style of street photography, will definitely be looking out for more of his work. he manages to capture little moments that can mean so much which i think is really cool. would love to take more inspiration from his street photography style.
Read
February 12, 2024"Photographs are often treated as important moments
but really they are little fragments and souvenirs of an unfinished world."
— Saul Leiter
i want to dissolve completely into saul leiter's photographs.
December 25, 2024
best enjoyed in a dark room with a small portable warm origami lamp and ‘abstract classical mix’ on spotify
saul leiter and his work are an endless inspiration i deeply connect with
this book was a christmas gift for myself just because
saul leiter and his work are an endless inspiration i deeply connect with
this book was a christmas gift for myself just because
August 27, 2018
Una visione straordinaria.
La ricerca sorprendente di un genio riscoperto.
La ricerca sorprendente di un genio riscoperto.
August 19, 2018
Read at American Book Center, Amsterdam
May 6, 2019
A precious little ode of an exhibition catalog to an undersung artist.
September 28, 2019
A collection of photographs.
I thought some of the images were striking and the short text sections were thought provoking.
Viewing / reading time around forty-five minutes.
I thought some of the images were striking and the short text sections were thought provoking.
Viewing / reading time around forty-five minutes.
August 26, 2023
Easily one of the best 3 color photographers of ALL TIME. Huge inspiration for what is possible with the medium if one's eye is trained to see the abstract.
Read
June 13, 2025Simplemente hermoso.
December 17, 2025
“There is a tremendous advantage to being unimportant.”
September 3, 2024
Saul Leiter is a true artist. The kind that no longer exists today. His work is emotional but very calm. Not only was he a true pioneer in color photography, he's the master of street photography. He truly paints with his lens.
July 12, 2020
Nice pictures, interesting quotes of Saul, very intimate work
April 14, 2023
Fantastic book. The text is well written and informative. The pictures inspirational. A cheaper way to get into Saul Leiter.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews