Award ceremonies Leica Oskar Barnack Award and Leica Hall of Fame Award 2021

Last Thursday evening, the ceremonies announcing the winners of this year's Leica Oskar Barnack Award, as well as the Leica Hall of Fame Award, took place within the framework of the “Celebration of Photography”, at Leica Camera AG headquarters in Wetzlar. During an extraordinary event, the Venezuelan photographer, Ana María Arévalo Gosen, and the German photographer, Emile Ducke, were honoured for their LOBA series. On the same evening, Leica Camera AG inducted the American photographer, Ralph Gibson, into the Leica Hall of Fame. Further highlights during the evening included the presentation of the Leica Q2 Reporter and the Leica Q2 Monochrom Reporter, as well as the opening of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and Leica Hall of Fame Award exhibitions. At the same time, the international opening of Leica's experiential world of photography was held at the redesigned Ernst Leitz Museum.

The LOBA 2021 winners: It was the Días Eternos (Eternal Days) series by the Venezuelan photographer, Ana María Arévalo Gosen (born 1988), that prevailed and earned her the LOBA in the main category. Captured with a Leica Q, the work documents the devastating living conditions of women in prisons in Venezuela and El Salvador. The LOBA Newcomer Award went to the German photographer Emile Ducke (born 1994). In his series, Kolyma – Along the Road of Bones, he uncovers the traces left by former forced-labourers in Siberia. Increased significantly last year on the occasion of the LOBA 40-year jubilee, the prize money granted to Ana María Arévalo Gosen amounted to 40,000 euros. In addition she received Leica camera equipment valued at 10,000 euros. As winner of the Newcomer Award, Emile Ducke received 10,000 euros in prize money, as well as a Leica Q. The winning series, along with the other eleven shortlisted ones, will be on display at the Ernst Leitz Museum until the end of February, 2022. This 41st edition of the LOBA, with works submitted by international nominators and a shortlist selected by a renowned jury, impressively demonstrates the importance of the competition, while capturing the state of the world in emotional and engaging images. Further information at: www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com

The Leica Hall of Fame: The American photographer, Ralph Gibson (born 1939) has been honoured for his life's work. His pictures are multi-faceted, with a reduced and clear imagery that is always unmistakeable. Taking pictures for over six decades with a variety of different Leica camera models, the photographer has produced a treasure trove of unequalled images, that include many now iconic motifs. Since 2011, Leica Camera AG has inducted twelve outstanding photographers into the Leica Hall of Fame, including such renowned personalities as Steve McCurry, Barbara Klemm, René Burri, Ara Güler and Joel Meyerowitz.

Celebration of Photography: In addition to the award ceremonies and exhibition openings, another highlight of the first evening of the event, was the presentation by Dr. Andreas Kaufmann (majority shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG) of the Leica Q2 Reporter and the Q2 Monochrom Reporter. With their discreet designs and particularly robust construction, they fit perfectly into the tradition of classic Leica cameras.

The festive ceremony – carried out in accordance with the rules defined by the pandemic limitations – was a special event for both international and regional guests. A compilation of the evening will soon be available on the various Leica channels. The program continued the following day in the foyer of Leica Camera AG headquarters, presenting exciting talks and podium discussions with the photographer-winners announced the previous evening.