For three days, the Leitz-Park in Wetzlar was, once again, a multifaceted setting where the passion for photography was given free rein. The Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2022 was at the heart of the Celebration of Photography program. The winner of the main award was photographer Kiana Hayeri, who was born in Iran and grew up in Canada; the LOBA Newcomer Award was granted to the German photographer Valentin Goppel. Their series, along with all the other 2022 shortlisted nominees, are on display at the Ernst Leitz Museum. A large exhibition of works by the French Leica photographer Claudine Doury, was opened at the same time at the Leica Gallery Wetzlar.
The LOBA 2022 winners. In this 42nd edition of the internationally renowned and highly remunerated photography competition, the winner of the main category was Kiana Hayeri (born 1988) for her series Promises Written on Ice, Left in the Sun. Hayeri has been living and working in Afghanistan for over eight years. Her work focuses primarily on the oppressive living situations of women there, which have only worsened since the Taliban’s return to power. Valentin Goppel (born 2000) was the Newcomer who convinced the LOBA 2022 jury. In his Between the Years series, he takes a very personal approach to addressing the upheavals and experiences of his generation in times of Corona. Both series are on display from October 21, 2022, to January 2023, at the Ernst Leitz Museum, alongside the ten additional series that made up the LOBA 2022 shortlist. The 42nd LOBA edition, with submissions made by international nominators and the final selection by a renowned jury of experts, reiterates the importance of the competition; at the same time, the emotional and powerful images submitted by the actively engaged photographers, reveal the state of the world with earth-shattering clarity. Further information at: www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com
Claudine Doury at the Leica Gallery Wetzlar. The evening of 20th October 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.
Celebration of Photography. The festivities began for invited guests early on the evening of 19th October, with a wonderful concert by celebrated trumpet player Till Brönner, whose Leica photography has also caused a sensation. In addition to the LOBA award ceremony and exhibition openings, one of the highlights of the Celebration of Photography was the presentation by Dr. Andreas Kaufmann (Majority shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG) of the latest Leica novelties. He introduced no less than three products. Of particular note is the new Leica M6, which is inspired by the legendary analogue rangefinder camera. To complement the M6, a new edition of the Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 Classic Line was also presented. The new limited edition Leica SL2-S Reporter, was also cause for celebration. These novelties further confirm that innovation and tradition remain the constants when it comes to Leica product development. The Leica Picture of the Year 2022 was also unveiled at the event: Magnum photographer Thomas Hoepker captured the iconic motif during his famous US road trip of 1963. Leica honoured the German photographer in 2016, with the Leica Hall of Fame Award for his life’s work. A limited edition of the Leica Picture of the Year 2022 will be available for purchase exclusively at Leica Galleries around the world. On the morning of 21st October in the foyer of Leica Camera AG, a podium discussion and talks with the LOBA winners rounded off the Celebration of Photography program.
Please find further information at:
Leica Camera AG
Ann-Kristin Löhr
Global PR Coordination
E-Mail: Ann-Kristin.Loehr@leica-camera.com
À propos de Leica Camera
Leica Camera AG est un fabricant haut de gamme d’appareils photo, d’objectifs et de produits d’observation. Entreprise internationale, elle peut s’enorgueillir d’une histoire qui couvre plus d’un siècle et demi. Dans le contexte de sa stratégie de développement, elle a étendu ses activités au Mobile Imaging (smartphones), ainsi qu’à la conception de verres de lunettes et de montres de qualité supérieure. Elle est également représentée dans le segment du home cinéma par ses projecteurs.
Le groupe Leica Camera AG se compose de son siège situé à Wetzlar, en Allemagne, d’un deuxième site de production à Vila Nova de Famalicão, au Portugal, et d’un réseau de plus de 120 Leica Stores dans le monde. L’entreprise emploie plus de 2400 collaboratrices et collaborateurs et a réalisé un chiffre d’affaires de 554 millions d’euros sur l’année financière 2023/24.
La marque Leica, c’est une qualité supérieure, ainsi qu’un savoir-faire et un design industriel allemands, le tout combiné à des technologies innovantes. Un élément important de la culture de la marque est la promotion de la photographie par le biais de près de trente galeries Leica, des Leica Akademies ainsi que de prix internationaux tels que le Leica Hall of Fame Award et le Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA).