A’invention that changed the world of photography: in 2025 Leica celebrates the centenary of the legendary Leica I, born fromThe intuition of Oskar Barnack and the entrepreneurial vision of Ernst Leitz II, with Exhibitions and appointments all over the world.
I decided: we will run the risk. With these words, in fact, Ernst Leitz II in 1925 chose to produce Oskar Barnack’s invention. Barnack, a precision mechanical engineer at Ernst Leitz Werke, had already completed the prototype in 1914 but the First World War caused the delay of further developments. Since 1925 Leica i, as First compact and light machine with a 24 × 36 mm format on 35 mm filmrevolutionized the
photography and made it part of everyday life, allowing the birth of street photography, photojournalism and reportage and accompanying generations of people and
USA. New York City. 1974.
great masters of the goal, Like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Steve Mc Curry, Matt Stuart and Joel Meyerowitz.
“I live with Leica, it is next to me on my shoulder when I go out and even when I sleep. My everyday life is connected to her. Since my first Leica, bought in 1963, I felt transformed into a human being who could finally focus on poetry, drama, everyday sensations: finally everything made sense “. J. Meyerowitz
From Dubai to Italy to New York, from Tokyo to Melbourne, from Paris to Shanghai: the whole world will be involved in
celebrations thanks to a series of initiatives along the course of 2025, involving photographers, creatives, designers and enthusiasts On a journey through the history and evolution of Leica, Between great exhibitions and special appointments.
In Italy, Milan is the protagonist with two appointments.
In Aprilon the occasion of Milan Design WeekLeica Store and Leica Galerie will be transformed to make the public live animmersive experience Discovering 100 years of evolution of the design of his cameras, Through an installation, sketches and prototypes, iconic images, collectible pieces.
In Juneit will be the moment of the Italian stage of In conversationthe project that includes a series of 12 exhibitions hosted in 12 Leica International Galerie that wants to create conversations between visions, putting Compared a Leica Hall of Fame photographer with a young talent. Milan will host The Dialogue between Gianni Berengo Gardin (Santa Margherita Ligure, 1930) and Roselena Ramistella (Gela, 1982).
Also the German Head Quarter of Leica, Leitz Park of Wetzlar (a short distance from Frankfurt), it will be the fulcrum of this year of celebrations. In addition to the exhibitions
Between Street Magic, dedicated to street photographyin the first half of 2025, and to the retrospective dedicated to Sebastião Salgadoin the second half of the year, in June the whole world of photography is invited to one three days of workshops, conversations, meetings, collectible cameras auctions, which will culminate in the world preview of A Century of Vision – A Chamber Changes Photographythe film by Reiner Holzemer That tells Leica in the life of all the photographers who use it and have used it.
Carlo Franza
Tag: centenary of Leica, Elliott Erwitt, Ernst Leitz II, photojournalism, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Joel Meyerowitz., Leica, Matt Stuart, birth of the Street Photography, Oskar Barnack, Prof. Carlo Franza, Reportage, Steve Mc Curry