A Concerned Photographer.

The Humanistic Touch.

Photos by Leonard Neumann.
Text article by David Cross.

Seldom do we hear about modern photographers referred too as humanistic or concerned, one could be forgiven for thinking that the genre was dead or relegated to the golden years of photography. Leonard Neumann is one photographer that has, over a long career spanning fifty years and several countries produced a body of work that is both arresting, gentle, informative and highly concerned with the human condition.

Thankfully, “Lennie” isn’t consigned to the past for his work endures and his practice continues today. Originally from South Africa, where he cut his teeth with photography, realising, having seen a book inspired by The Family of Man exhibition, that photo’s were far from limited to holiday snaps, he hit the streets. With his fathers old rangefinder in hand it didn’t take long for him to become consumed by the magic and theatre of the sidewalk.

Neumann though is as far as you can be from the standard format “street photographer” that many of us are well versed with today. He avoids gimmick and strikes at the reality in life, he finds natural moments that touch our senses, feel normal to us, yet always surprise and have that added sense that we are being made aware of something. Something we should look at.

Following a few years in the U.S.A. Neumann has now settled in London, England. With this move and change of scenery so too he, - and his American friends - have witnessed a change in his images. “Less harsh, softer” is how he describes the transformation. He admits this is much to do with the light but also the pace and deep rooted feeling in the man, that photos should “lift ones spirit”. He aims his camera at the light, not the darkness. He looks for the best in people.

Leonard Neumann fuses elements of many photographers into his own images, yet you can see that his own personal vision and style shines through. His subject matter and the way he deals with the scenes is a fusion of ambiguity and humour. Though he isn’t limited to this - his work in South Africa is compelling and sympathetic without being sentimental or condescending. Similarly his use of light and the range of tones adds a softness of touch. All of this combines to create strong images that deserve to be admired, exhibited and held as record. Neumann is one of the Masters at observing the ordinary and elevating it to a higher level.

Here in the U.K. James Ravilious is considered one of the greats who wasn’t really discovered during his lifetime. He made fine images of rural life in Devon, working mainly within a twenty mile radius of his home. Neumann is a fan, they share the same understanding of light, tone and incidence of the human spirit and good times. The image above could almost be by Ravilious, but Leonard has that added quirk, a slight displacement of elements leaves us wondering what the subject really is, and it is this magic that makes him so interesting to look at. What at first seems obvious, often turns out not to be.

In these photographs we see an approach that is both artistic and concerned. Put together in a book it would be easy for us to see a new version of say, Robert Frank, Ron Evans or Cornel Capa. The splendid use of tones adds a majestic layer of texture and detail, his vision of the normal simply observed through an old rangefinder is unique, fresh and yet also pleasing enough to feel familiar and visceral.

Thanks for reading and sharing. Leonard Neumann has exhibited in London and Texas, his website is www.leonardneumann.com