The Company is Recalibrated
In 2004, Leica is facing an existential crisis: the digital boom is dominating the industry and the economic pressure on precision craftsmanship is increasing rapidly. The brand is already considered obsolete. At this time, Dr Andreas Kaufmann takes a stake in Leica Camera AG through the investment company he has established with his brothers. Since 2006, he has held the position of majority shareholder. The family man has a strong conviction in precision, German craftsmanship and consistency. Rather than pursuing short-term financial gains and trends, he adopts a strategic approach that emphasises values that are also pivotal in the field of photography: long-term focus, patience and a clear, distinctive perspective. Despite the negative predictions, he remains optimistic about the future of Leica, believing in its potential to become a globally recognised brand.
A Leica represents an investment in excellence, offering its owner the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the brand’s distinguished history and to connect with a global community of accomplished photographers.– Dr Andreas Kaufmann
Katrina
The Calm After the Storm
The forces of nature cause havoc during the mid-2000s: first, the tsunami of the century in Southeast Asia claims hundreds of thousands of lives, then Hurricane Katrina devastates the US Gulf Coast in 2005. David G. Spielman meticulously documents the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Isaac – storms that struck seven years to the day apart. His images are a testament to a time in which natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. They also indicate how closely the environment and transience are linked.
Monumental Omens
Ragnar Axelsson’s photographic collection, entitled Where the World is Melting, showcases the imposing yet delicate beauty of the Arctic, encompassing Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Siberia. His monochrome images record the decline of a vanishing world: anxious hunters on perilous ice, villages shrouded in mist and sled dogs facing imminent redundancy. Axelsson provides a clear illustration depicting the impact of climate change on habitats – a phenomenon that is otherwise only evident in statistical data.
