Leica Camera CoP 2023 Award Ceremony Dr. Kaufmann
Leica Camera CoP 2023 Award Ceremony Loba 2023 Winners
Leica Camera CoP 2023 Award Ceremony LOBA Newcomer Winner Ziyi Le
Leica Camera CoP 2023 Award Ceremony LOBA Winner Ismail Ferdous
Leica Camera CoP 2023 Watch Launch Outside Illumination
Celebration of Photography 2023
For three days, Leitz Park Wetzlar was once again the scene of living passion for photography. The celebration of photography began on October 11 with numerous tours in the Leica headquarters and at other important Leica stations throughout Wetzlar. To discover was also the Leica ZM 11, the new watch from the Ernst-Leitz-Werkstätten. On the evening of October 12, the "Celebration of Photography" included the award ceremonies for this year's Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) and the announcement of the Leica Hall of Fame Award and the Leica Picture of the Year.
In a special ceremony, Bangladeshi photographer Ismail Ferdous and Chinese photographer Ziyi Le were honoured for their LOBA series. At the same time, the Leica Galerie Wetzlar opened its doors for a large exhibition of Leica Hall of Fame winner 2023 Elliott Erwitt. Another highlight during the awards on the evening of 12 October was the recitation by British poet and author Hussain Manawer.
The supporting programme concluded on the morning of 13 October with a panel discussion entitled "A Commitment to the Truth: Photojournalism in Crisis?" LOBA winner Ismail Ferdous discussed the rapidly changing conditions in current photojournalism with shortlist candidate Laetitia Vançon and photo editor and curator Lars Lindemann.
Hussain Manawer
Popular poet and Leica lover: British poet and author Hussain Manawer also did the honours at this year’s Celebration of Photography, with a recitation. Among the most successful young poets of the international scene, Manawer’s image-rich texts find their visual counterpart in his work with Leica cameras; he is currently photographing with a Leica Q2. He has now captured his intense relationship with Leica in a very personal poem titled “Welcome To Wetzlar”, into which he has woven the experiences and encounters he had during the CoP. Listen and see for yourself; share his experiences.
Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2023
Ismail Ferdous – Sea Beach
The colourful life on the beach: Cox's Bazar is located at the southern tip of Bangladesh. The popular port of call for many of the country's inhabitants stretches along the Bay of Bengal and is considered a cultural melting pot, as people from the most diverse walks of life seek relaxation and recreation there for a moment. The New York-based photographer (*1989) is himself from Bangladesh and returned to this unique place to capture the beachgoers and the special atmosphere in bright colours.
Ziyi Le – New Comer
The Chinese photographer (*1993) started his project via Weibo, a Twitter-like portal for short messages in China. There he found people interested in his sensitive portrait series. For him, the staged photo shoots are also a reflection on his own self-doubt and the feeling of alienation and spiritual emptiness. The result is a touching portrait of the "New Comers", a generation in search of its place in society, of personal development.
LOBA Panel Discussion
Winner Series 2023
New York City, USA 2000 © Elliott Erwitt_MAGNUM PHOTOS
By legendary Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt.
Since 2021, Leica Camera AG has dedicated the Leica Picture of the Year to outstanding Leica photographers who have been inducted into the Leica Hall of Fame. To date, twelve renowned photographers have been honoured with the award for their life's work. To share a piece of this success with all Leica enthusiasts, a Leica Picture of the Year is selected each year. The Leica Picture of the Year is offered exclusively by the 27 Leica Galleries worldwide. This gives all collectors and Leica friends the opportunity to build up a unique collection of great Leica photographs with the limited editions.
Eiffel Tower 100th anniversary, Paris, France 1989 © Elliott Erwitt_MAGNUM PHOTOS
Leica Hall of Fame Award Winner Elliott Erwitt in the Leica Galerie Wetzlar.
On the evening of the LOBA award ceremony on 12 October, Elliott Erwitt was also inducted into the Leica Hall of Fame in the foyer of Leica Camera AG. The American photographer with European roots is one of the most important and influential photographers of our time. The work of the Magnum photographer, born in 1928, is unique and vast. For the exhibition at the Leica Galerie Wetzlar, he has compiled 50 of his best motifs himself. The presentation brings together legendary celebrity portraits and favourite dog shots as well as many of his so typical everyday moments marked by empathy and humour. One of his iconic motifs was chosen as the Leica Picture of the Year 2023: the portrait of a bulldog on its owner's lap was taken in New York City in 2000. The Leica Picture of the Year is available in a limited edition of 80 worldwide exclusively through Leica Galleries.
Hall of Fame - Elliott Erwitt
The product highlight during the evening included the presentation of the new Leica Watch ZM 11.
Discover the new Leica ZM 11
Timepieces of iconic design language with Swiss automatic movement.