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Quote by Saul Leiter

“I spent a great deal of my life being ignored. I was always very happy that way. Being ignored is a great privilege. That is how I think I learned to see what others do not see and to react to situations differently. I simply looked at the world, not really prepared for anything.”

Quote by Saul Leiter

Author

Saul Leiter (December 3, 1923 – November 26, 2013) was an American photographer and painter, known for his pioneering work in color street photography. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he studied painting before moving to New York City, where he became a key figure in mid-20th-century color photography. Leiter's work is characterized by blur, reflections, and abstract compositions, capturing poetic moments of urban life. Despite limited recognition during his lifetime, his art was rediscovered in later years, influencing contemporary photography significantly. more

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“In order to build a career and to be successful, one has to be determined. One has to be ambitious. I much prefer to drink coffee, listen to music and to paint when I feel like it.”

Feels Should Order Pleasure Careers Successful Alive Drink Paint Determined Coffee Being Successful Ambitious Listening To Music Irresponsible

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“I leave these speculations to others. It’s quite possible that my work represents a search for beauty in the most prosaic and ordinary places. One doesn’t have to be in some faraway dreamland in order to find beauty.”

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“I started out as a fashion photographer. One cannot say that I was successful but there was enough work to keep me busy. I collaborated with Harper's Bazaar and other magazines. I was constantly aware that those who hired me would have preferred to work with a star such as Avedon. But it didn't matter. I had work and I made a living. At the same time, I took my own photographs. Strangely enough, I knew exactly what I wanted and what I liked.”

Made Matter Enough Wanted Stars My Own Successful Fashion Photographer Photograph Busy Magazines Harper Bazaars

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“I go out to take a walk, I see something, I take a picture. I take photographs. I have avoided profound explanations of what I do.”

Walks Profound Photograph Explanation Avoided

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“I must admit that I am not a member of the ugly school. I have a great regard for certain notions of beauty even though to some it is an old fashioned idea. Some photographers think that by taking pictures of human misery, they are addressing a serious problem. I do not think that misery is more profound than happiness.”

Thinking Humans Ideas Problem School Certain Serious Members Regard Misery Profound Notion Photographer Ugly Old Fashioned Taking Pictures

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“Seeing is a neglected enterprise.”

Seeing Enterprise Neglected

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“If I’d only known which [photographs] would be very good and liked, I wouldn’t have had to do all the thousands of others.”

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“There are the things that are out in the open and then there are the things that are hidden, and life has more to do, the real world has more to do with what is hidden, maybe. You think?”

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“The important thing in life is not what you get, but what you throw out.”

Important Life Is Important Things Things In Life

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“Photography allows you to learn to look and see. You begin to see things you'd never paid attention to.”

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