Joel Meyerowitz began his career of making photographs as a classical street photographer in the tradition of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank. Utilizing color film as well as street photography’s traditional black and white film, Meyerowitz became one of the earliest advocates of color photography and has become an instrumental figure in changing the attitude toward the making and collecting of color photography from one of resistance to nearly universal acceptance.

Already established as a pioneer of the genre, in 1976 Meyerowitz abandoned his 35mm for an 8×10 inch view camera. The switch compelled Meyerowitz to alter his approach to photography, forcing him to take more time and a more deliberate approach in constructing each image. Considering more thoroughly the composition, lighting and conceptual aspects of each photograph, Meyerowitz discovered a new facet of his passion for the medium—one to which he would ultimately commit and that would come to define his career.