Celebration of Photography 2022
For three days, the Leitz-Park in Wetzlar once again became a multifaceted platform for a living passion for photography. On the evening of October 20, the ceremonies announcing the winners of this year's Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) as well as the Leica Picture of the Year took place as part of the “Celebration of Photography”. The day before, a concert by jazz trumpeter Till Broenner, known for his outstanding virtuosity, kicked off the celebration.
During an extraordinary event, Canadian photographer Kiana Hayeri and German photographer Valentin Goppel were honoured for their LOBA series. At the same time, a large exhibition by French Leica photographer Claudine Doury was opened at the Leica Gallery Wetzlar. The highlight of the celebration was the presentation of three new Leica products, including Leica M6 and Leica SL2-S Reporter.
The winners of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2022
Kiana Hayeri
Promises Written on the Ice, Left in the Sun
After the withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, it took only a few days for the Taliban to destroy all the achievements made in the areas of freedom of expression, women’s rights and education, and to instil fear and insecurity in their place. The photographer was born in Iran, in 1988, and brought up in Canada. She has been living in Afghanistan for seven years now; her work centres, in particular, around the living situations of women.
Portrait: © Aaron Vincent Elkaim
Valentin Goppel
Between the Years
Young adults in times of Corona: the series by the German photographer (born 2000) explores the impact of the pandemic on his generation. He, too, experienced the sudden break away from habits, and the feelings of insecurity that seemed to define people’s plans and the future. Corona was like a catalyser for an ongoing sense of disorientation. Photography, however, offered Goppel a tool with which to better understand his thoughts and fears, and enabled him to give the sense of forlornness visual expression.
Portrait: © Alex Wohn
Winner Series 2022 - Kiana Hayeri
Leica Picture of the Year 2022
By legendary Magnum photographer Thomas Hoepker.
Since 2021, Leica Camera AG has been choosing a Leica Picture of the Year taken by outstanding Leica photographers, who have been inducted into the Leica Hall of Fame. To date, twelve renowned photographers have been honoured with the Leica Hall of Fame award. With the aim of sharing a piece of this success with all Leica enthusiasts, each Leica Picture of the Year will be on offer exclusively at the 25 Leica Galleries worldwide. These limited editions grant collectors and Leica friends alike the chance to build up a unique collection of great Leica photographs.
Claudine Doury at the Leica Gallery Wetzlar
The evening of October 20 saw the celebration of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award ceremony in the foyer of Leica Camera AG, as well as the opening of Between Magic and Reality, an exhibition of works by the renowned French photographer Claudine Doury (born 1959). The Leica Gallery Wetzlar is presenting three of her series, where the LOBA 1999 winner shares poetic images and touching stories set in gorgeous locations in Central Asia, Crimea and Siberia.
Our Product Highlights at the “Celebration of Photography”
The product highlights during the evening included the presentation of three new Leica products.
Leica M6
Leica SL2-S Reporter
Fears no assignment.
Leica Summilux-M 35 f/1.4