Shutterbugs of all walks congregated at Leica World to celebrate the very first 35mm camera, a radical object that changed the way we see the world 100 years ago.

A hundred years ago, <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/watches/interview-leica-timepieces-zm12-info" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leica</a> revolutionised the world of <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/style/exclusive-interview-brooklyn-beckham" target="_blank" rel="noopener">photography</a> by making it portable. The story goes: optical engineer and avid photographer Oskar Barnack developed the small and handy Ur-Leica prototype in 1914 because his asthma made it impossible to carry around the cumbersome cameras of the time. This ingenious invention would later lead to the development of the Leica I, the world&rsquo;s first commercial camera using 35mm film (the standard for <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/culture/superman-legacy-david-corenswet-details-cast-filming-film-movie-celebrity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cinema</a>). Unveiled at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925 to instant and rousing success, the rest, as they say, is history.

With the Leica I, photographers could now take their cameras anywhere, allowing them to capture candid moments with spontaneous and unprecedented ease. Compact and easy to use, it also made cameras highly accessible, as anyone could simply pick it up and take a shot, proliferating photography over the years. The Leica I design had a profound influence on the form and function of future cameras as well, serving as the dominant blueprint for a wide array of photographic equipment. With one landmark object, Leica became an icon.

Ur-Leica prototype from 1914

First Leica I from 1925

Which brings us to the centennial. An important milestone, certainly. But we&rsquo;re not just commemorating the legacy of the Leica I; we&rsquo;re also celebrating 100 years of democratic photography, underscored by the Leica community. Over 800 international guests gathered at Leica World in Wetzlar, Germany for the occasion, from paragons of professional photography like Ralph Gibson, Joel Meyerowitz and Wing Shya, to amateur enthusiasts and clients of the brand.

Jazz singer Jamie Cullum showcased his personal exhibition at Leica Gallery Wetzlar and performed a private concert. Jason Momoa apparently scored big at the 46th Leitz Photographica Auction. South Korean actor Ryu Jun-yeol even entreated to be there, just to soak in the atmosphere. And despite the scores of cameras slung around necks or on hips, everyone gave these celebrities respectful berth, never once shoving lenses in their faces.

Such was the vibe at Leica headquarters (colloquially referred to as &ldquo;the mothership&rdquo;) over the three days of centenary celebrations: casual and convivial, with a palpable shared love of photography. The programme was loose and unstructured: there were press conferences unveiling 100th anniversary editions, like the exclusive Leica M11 engraved with &ldquo;Wetzlar Germany&rdquo; (part of a series of cameras marked with the cities where the 100-year celebrations are held); the 46th Leitz Photographica Auction with rarefied collectibles like a 0-Series prototype (precursor to the Leica I); a special screening of the Leica, A Century of Vision documentary that will release later this year; and various other photography workshops, panel talks and tours. In the background of it all, there was the satisfying susurration of shutter clicks, every moment was a photo op.
Naturally, Leica leadership showed up in force to host the momentous event. We took the opportunity to speak with Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Art Director and Chief Representative of Leica Galleries International, on how Leica has transcended photography in just 100 years.

100 Years of Leica photography &mdash; what do you make of that? It&rsquo;s really something special, this commitment to the art of photography. All these photographers from the past who used Leica because there was no other camera &mdash; having their images in our archives is amazing. Also, starting the Leica Galleries, which is something no other camera maker is doing. For us, the person behind the camera is just as important as the camera itself, because without them there are no pictures.&nbsp;
But the cameras play a big part as well. We&rsquo;ve always been different and unique with our products. We never stopped producing analog cameras, and now other brands are starting to do so again because it has become a trend. Everyone told us we were crazy to do a camera that can only shoot in black and white in 2011, but the Monochrom continues to be one of our most successful models today. We have digital cameras without a screen, so that you really focus on the subject and not be distracted by the display. It goes back to our roots and our design, and that&rsquo;s how Leica photography will go on even after 100 years.

'The Pleasure of Seeing' by Joel Meyerowitz

What makes Leica photography so distinctive? It&rsquo;s not about perfection, but storytelling and humanity. When you look at the our exhibition with Joel Meyerowitz, The Pleasure of Seeing, you can always see the human touch in his images. Very often, Leica images stay longer with the viewer because they have human qualities. And our lenses provide the opportunity for more depth. It is my dream one day for everyone to be able to instantly identify a Leica image.
You&rsquo;re a member of the jury for the Leica Oskar Barnack Awards (LOBA). What is the first thing that catches your eye when you come across a photograph? First is of course the extent of Photoshop &mdash; if there&rsquo;s too much, then it&rsquo;s not for us. But really photography&rsquo;s a visual art, so I want to be able to understand the meaning of a picture by looking at it, which is not always easy. Storytelling, emotion and human. These three words are the most important to me when I look at images.
What distinguishes a good photo from a great one? That depends on taste and what you are looking for. When things are not perfect, such as dim lighting, then it becomes interesting to me. And that&rsquo;s the thing with AI images: perfection is not human, because no human is perfect.

You also oversee the management of Leica Galleries worldwide. What role do galleries play in the age of digital media, specifically for photographic works? A very important one. A picture is only a picture when it is printed out. Otherwise, it is data, and data can be changed. When you go to a gallery, you see the final facts on the wall. It also gives people a chance to curate their own personal archives. My wish for our gallery visitors is that they leave with at least one image that stays with them. Galleries also provide a space to meet people. As photography discourse continues to grow, there is a greater need and desire to meet in person. That&rsquo;s my feeling. It&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re experiencing with our centennial: people from over 40 nations travelling here just to celebrate with us. This is the Leica family, our community, and we gather and meet in our stores and galleries.&nbsp;
Why do you think people still have a fascination with cameras in the age of smartphones? Because they are completely different things. Did you know that we also give workshops for smartphone users? We are fortunate that so many people are interested in photography, so I always say that everyone is welcome at Leitz Park. Everyone is a photographer in some small way, and if they are interested they will want to learn and be better. Of course, some will recognise the limitations of a smartphone and start to seek out something more capable. Also, each camera has a story. When you look at all these old cameras at our auction and think about all the people who&rsquo;ve held them, you start to understand why so many people are willing to pay to have these objects. There&rsquo;s a kind a magic surrounding Leica, and that fascinates photographers around the world.

"There&rsquo;s a kind a magic surrounding Leica, and that fascinates photographers around the world."
Karin-Rehn Kaufmann

All images courtesy of Leica Camera AG.

Here's What Went Down at the Leica Centenary Event in Wetzlar

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