The pioneering use of shade pictures by Saul Leiter through the mid-Twentieth century, predominantly in New York Metropolis, is acknowledged for its distinctive aesthetic. His method, typically incorporating abstraction, blurred movement, and reflections, reworked mundane city scenes into evocative and painterly compositions. He continuously employed Kodachrome movie, embracing its saturated hues and contributing to a definite visible signature.
Leiter’s modern work predates the widespread acceptance of shade pictures as a severe creative medium. His creative imaginative and prescient, characterised by a concentrate on environment and emotion, challenged standard photographic practices of the time. This groundbreaking method considerably influenced subsequent generations of photographers and continues to encourage modern artists. His pictures provide a singular window into the city panorama and cultural milieu of post-war New York, capturing town’s vibrant vitality and refined nuances.