01:50 - Source: CNN
Saul Leiter: Pioneer of early color photography

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"Saul Leiter: Retrospectives" is a new exhibition featuring the late American photographer's work

Leiter is known for his abstract street photography of New York and his experimentation with color photography

CNN  — 

Saul Leiter (1923-2013) was an American photographer best known for his pioneering role in the use of color photography.

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to an Orthodox Jewish family. Leiter was given his first camera at around 11 years old by his mother. He would later abandoned his theological studies in pursuit of art.

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At the age of 23, he packed his bags and moved to New York in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a painter. Using the city and where he lived for almost 60 years as influence, Leiter would stroll around his neighborhood everyday taking photographs.

Never leaving his apartment without his camera, his neighborhood and its residents became the focus of a lot of his work.

Saul Leiter, Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
American photographer Saul Leiter is considered one of the pioneers of color photography.
Saul Leiter
He moved to New York to pursue his career as a painter in 1946, but soon became enamored by the creative potential of photography in the city.
Saul Lieter
He carried his camera everywhere, capturing daily life in New York.
Saul Leiter, Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
By 1947, he was shooting photographs in color.
Saul Leiter. Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
He applied what he learned from painting to his photography -- using unique textures and abstract framing in his work.
Saul Lieter
At the time, shooting in color was considered an unappealing art form because it was expensive.
Saul Leiter, Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York.
Leiter often shunned the limelight, and opted to quietly produce his art rather than participate in exhibitions.
Saul Leiter
Leiter eventually began partnering with fashion publications, working on shoots with Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar.

In 1947, he began to shoot photographs in color. At the time, capturing images in color, as opposed to black and white, was regarded as vulgar by some photographers.

Leiter continued to pursue the expensive and often unreliable color photography medium.

His work is now widely celebrated among those in the industry as well as artists. Todd Hayes, who recently directed the film Carol, credits Leiter as being an inspiration.

The exhibition “Saul Lieter: Retrospective” is on from 22 Jan to 3 April 2016 at The Photographers’ Gallery in London. It will showcase more than of 100 of Leiter’s works, including early black-and-white images, color sketchbooks and color photographs.