all photos ~ (embiggenable)
24 HOURS AFTER POSTING THAT SPRING HAS SPRUNG we got a morning dump of Spring snow. However, by mid-afternoon all evidence of it was gone. A weird coincidence of sorts.
Re: coincidences; over the same period of time as the snow dump event there was another even weirder coincidence – I was ruminating about the concept of Optimistic Nihilism (yes, there is such a thing) and how it might apply to my life, the contemplation of which led to the question, is there such a thing as Optimistic Nihilistic Photography? As it turns out, surprise, surprise, there is such a thing. Setting aside the idea of Optimistic Nihilism, life and photography wise, as a topic for another entry, I googled “name some Optimistic Nihilist photographers” and a few names came up, one with which I was very familiar – Saul Leiter.
That result was quite a coincidence inasmuch as I had been thinking about–per my intention of creating entries about photo books–a post about a couple of Saul Leiter books (see photo above). In particular, the Early Color book is in the running for the one book I might choose if I were to be banished for all eternity to a remote island with only one photo book (yet another topic for a future entry).
That written, before I made an entry–re: a Saul Leiter photo book–I thought it wise to be sure that the book(s) is currently available; turns out it is although that is, if you have $400-1,000USD to spent for the Early Color book. The Colors book would set you back another $500-1,500USD. YIKES! I had no idea; I acquired my absolutely perfect condition Early Color book decades ago in a small used bookstore in Manhattan for $45USD. Ditto the Colors book.
In any event, I will be making an entry about Saul Leiter. While I will recommend the Early Color book with the caveat of good luck finding one without breaking the bank, fortunately there is a good sample of his color work to be seen on the Saul Leiter Foundation website.
PS I am beginning to suspect that many of the books in my possession that I might write about / recommend just might be out of print. That written, I am hoping that, if they are out of print, the prices thereof will not have reached absurd amounts.