North Korean women dance with hand fans and transparent cloths in white, red and blue.

The Power of Dreams

02/11/2021
xiomara-bender

I actually didn’t start out shooting this project with a Leica

Xiomara Bender

North Korea is changing – slowly and almost imperceptibly. What remains is the impression of an extremely isolated country that tends to be regarded with considerable prejudice. Over the past few years, Xiomara Bender has gained a more profound understanding of the hermetically sealed country than most other Western photographers.

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My images are often described as dramaturgic or cinematic

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I’m always searching for that one picture that tells the entire story. Working with a Leica has changed the way I photograph. I have become clearer in terms of what I’m looking for and what I want to capture, so I no longer reach for the camera at every seemingly opportune moment.

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Regarding North Korea:

I view photography as a language that has existed for more than 200 years. You must be able to listen and be attentive in order to master it.

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This is something my Leica helps me achieve.

Many of the most revolutionary photo reportages of the past decades were created with Leica cameras, so that being able to photograph with a Leica always feels like a privilege and is associated with an inherent philosophy. The Leica SL2 is meticulously crafted, unobtrusive and quiet. All of this has a decelerating effect on me, and makes it a perfect companion for this type of environment. I have complete faith in my camera, and consider Leica lenses to be among the very best in the world.