A person is standing on a rock in a stormy sea, holding a pair of binoculars.

It's our curiosity
that leads the way

Elias Maria with the Leica SL2-S

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It’s in my nature to be hungry for new experiences. When working on a project, I approach the task objectively, and decide which tools and stylistic means are best suited to telling the story.

Elias Maria

Over the past five years, Munich-based cinematographer and photographer Elias Maria has achieved great success with his high-end video productions. Born in 2003, the artist followed his passion from a remarkably young age – quickly realising that moving images were his expressive medium of choice.

Most of Elias’ work has been centred around advertising projects for well-known brands, involving large teams and high-end professional equipment. He is also set to release a feature film. With a keen interest in cutting-edge technology, Elias is always happy to try out the latest innovations.

Sailboats are usually higher than they are long, so the 4:3 aspect ratio was the most aesthetic choice: a conscious reduction that left little space in the frame. Black-and-white brought a certain calmness to the film; colour would have added unnecessary information, rather than more meaning.

Instead of limiting himself to a specific style, Elias Maria adapts to the challenges of each situation. For his film about the Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez regatta, he worked with a small, flexible team.

I always have a Leica with me, be it a Minilux, an M6, M11, or a camera from the SL-System. The SL2-S delivers spectacular results – not just in still photography, but particularly when shooting films. We were blown away by the colours and the quality of the raw material.

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For some projects, you have to travel light and stay flexible – which makes the SL2-S the perfect tool for the job. In the case of Les Voiles, it was also important that the camera and lens could withstand some hefty splashes of water.