As part of the celebrations marking the centennial of the first series-produced 35mm camera, the Leica I, Leica World is presenting the exhibition CITY PORTRAITS: Out and about with the Leica Akademie in the forest adjacent to the Leitz-Park in Wetzlar. The exhibit features a selection of street photography from around the world, held by the Leica Akademie, which is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year. The exhibited images, set against the peaceful ambience of the Leitz-Park forest, captivate through the counterpoint they create with nature.

The genre of street photography is closely linked to Leica. It was the small yet fast Leica camera that first made it possible to capture everyday life on the streets at decisive moments without being noticed. Street photography remains one of the most active genres of photography to this day. The works exhibited in the Leitz-Park forest harness diverse imagery to show the wit, beauty and excitement that commonplace street scenes offer to everyone who is willing to look.

The Leica Akademie is one of the world’s oldest photography schools and is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year. Now active worldwide, prestigious photographers pass on their knowledge to photography enthusiasts around the world. The works of Jesse Marlow, Knox Bertie, Russell Shakespeare, Stephen Dupont, Pia Parolin, Siegfried Hansen, Mariko Taya, Matt Stuart and Robin Sinha surprise, inspire and motivate photographers on an international scale.

Established in 1930 as the “Lehr-Atelier Wetzlar” (Wetzlar training atelier), it was first renamed the “Leica Schule” in 1938 and finally “Leica Akademie” in 1988. The academies give photographers the opportunity to take a closer look at Leica cameras and lenses, thereby combining their passion for photography with learning and technical practice. From workshops to master classes, the network now spans 18 countries – from Australia to Japan, from China to the US. Leica’s visual philosophy is made accessible to those who are interested in pursuing it, offering them the chance to engage in creative dialogue.

The outdoor gallery with the exhibition CITY PORTRAITS: Out and about with the Leica Akademie  in the Leitz-Park forest is open to the public free of charge between 29 June and 26 October 2025 – on weekdays and at weekends. It invites families as well as photography and nature enthusiasts to experience fascinating images while taking a walk through nature.

100 Years of Leica: Witness to a Century

In 2025, Leica Camera AG is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Leica I, which was first presented to the public at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925. As the first 35 mm still camera to be mass-produced, it exceeded all expectations. Because with its compact and handy format, it opened up a whole new range of new photographic applications. All around the globe, Leica Camera AG is celebrating this camera, which revolutionised the world of photography, under the motto “100 Years of Leica: Witness to a Century”. Cultural projects and extraordinary special-edition products will be launched throughout the year at international events organised by the Leica national subsidiaries in the major cities of Dubai, Milan, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo. The anniversary week, taking place in Wetzlar, the company’s headquarters, in June, marks the high point of the celebrations. On top of that, visitors can look forward to top-class exhibitions in the worldwide network of Leica Galleries with works by outstanding photographers.

Please find further information at:

Leica Camera AG
Ann-Kristin Schneider
Global PR Manager
E-Mail:  Ann-Kristin.Schneider@leica-camera.com