2022

Leica M6

Never Gone, and Yet Back Again

In a countertrend to online culture, Leica responds to the growing longing for analogue photography with a new edition of the timeless M6, featuring a revised viewfinder, precise exposure display and the unmistakable M feeling that bridges tradition and trends.

Black-and-white image: A multi-storey building stands alone in a bombed-out square. Its floors are torn and concrete slabs hang from the building. A crane basket approaches one of the upper floors.

Borodyanka, Ukraine 2022, Stephen Dupont

War Returns to Europe

On 24 February 2022, Russia attacks Ukraine, abruptly shifting Europe’s sense of security. Suddenly, a war returns that many no longer thought possible in such geographical proximity. Its end remains uncertain, as do its consequences for politics, society and coexistence. For reportage photographers, it is a return to an all-too-familiar reality: a nation in dire straits, captured courageously because looking away is not an option.

Nicole Tung, Peter Turnley, Stephen Dupont and Dominic Nahr bring their cameras into war zones that force so many to flee. They persistently document the horror of war at great personal risk, without shying away from the action, so that it remains tangible and comprehensible.

Black-and-white image: A man wearing a military uniform climbs over the twisted, charred remains of a destroyed helicopter scattered across a field.

Makariv, Ukraine 2022, Stephen Dupont

Black-and-white image: A combat missile is launched from a flat field, leaving behind a huge, dark cloud of smoke and dust that rises into the sky.

A balloon seller rides through the morning mist near Kabul. Véronique de Viguerie’s photograph offers a glimmer of hope in dark times. It shows that, even in corners of the world ravaged by war and dictatorship, there is still room for everyday joy amid conflict and insecurity.

A bicycle, backlit by the rising sun, travels along a dusty country road; the rider is covered by a large bundle of colourful balloons, which look like a floating cloud against the barren landscape.

The Afghan Color Seller 2023, Véronique de Viguerie

Leica M11

Authentic at Every Resolution

The M11 combines tradition and technical innovation. The back-illuminated sensor delivers a choice of 60, 36 or 18 MP. With over 50 improvements compared to its predecessor, it marks a new chapter in the M-System’s decades-long history. In 2024, the M11-P will be the world’s first camera with Content Credentials, a digital watermark that proves the authenticity of images.

Real Worlds

In an era where AI-generated images increasingly resemble reality, it becomes increasingly important to recognise and appreciate the diversity of reality. The following photographers use their M11 to show us various graphic spaces, styles, stories and visions, sometimes strictly composed, sometimes playful and sometimes conceptual, but always real.

Close-up of a white motorboat with striking yellow window frames, green seat cushions and wooden panelling on the side.

Yellow Boat 2021, Ralph Gibson

Ralph Gibson

Ralph Gibson invites us into his world of light, shadow and precise forms, offering a sharp perspective. His M11 gives him the freedom to highlight details without disrupting the clear rhythm of his visual language.

Black-and-white shot: A child wearing a large cowboy hat holds an ice cream in the foreground and looks upwards, while an illuminated fairground can be seen in the background.

Inspiration. Everywhere. 2022, Kathryn Boyd Brolin

Kathryn Boyd Brolin

Sometimes, inspiration can be found everywhere simply by looking closely: family, work and encounters on the road, for example. With the M11-P, Kathryn Boyd Brolin captures sensitive moments in everyday life and shares them with us.

Re-enactment of a famous film scene: A group of children and a suited man cower on the beach while a large flock of birds swoop low overhead.

The Birds 3 2021, Sacha Goldberger

Sacha Goldberger

Sacha Goldberger uses the M11 to recreate famous scenes from Alfred Hitchcock films, paying close attention to detail and capturing the nostalgia and tension of each shot. He creates his sets somewhere between homage and his own original narrative.

Two chefs wearing face masks work behind steamed-up, wet glass in the warm, blurred light of a restaurant.

Dumpling Kitchen, Lisle Street, London 2021, Joshua K. Jackson

Joshua K. Jackson

Joshua K. Jackson takes us into the fascinating nightlife of London, with its wet pavements, neon lights and fleeting encounters. The M11 series immerses viewers deep into the night through subtle gradations.

A person dives into dark water, their body enveloped by a large cloud of air bubbles and swirls, leaving only their legs and one arm dimly visible.

Parthenope (The Siren) from the series The Eyes of Her 2024, Narelle Autio

Narelle Autio

Narelle Autio takes us into a floating underwater world of bodies, light and bubbles. As such elaborate motifs are increasingly generated using CGI or AI, Leica is introducing Leica Content Credentials – data points that help prove the authenticity of a photographed moment. The M11-P is the world’s first camera to offer this feature.

A World Apart?

In modern China, tradition and the future are locked in a particularly intense struggle. Kai Löffelbein views the second most populous country in the world as a great stage for change. His finely observed series, Common Dreams, reveals the many human facets of shared dreams, from migrant labour and economic power to the numerous living spaces in between. What appears to be an excursion into a world of its own is, in fact, a reflection of the global contrasts we all face.

Workers assemble colourful toy figures at long production tables under bright neon lights in a factory.

To China

Performers

Black-and-white image: Paul McCartney and Dave Chappelle sit side by side on a chaise longue, smiling for the camera.

Black-and-white image: Lady Gaga stands behind a DJ mixing desk wearing a black evening gown while performing.

A stage bathed completely in red light with two delicate neon blue LED strips in the background. Lenny Kravitz stands with a cool stance in the red spotlight, one hand on the microphone, sunglasses on his face and an electric guitar slung over his shoulder.

Black-and-white portrait: James Hetfield is photographed from knee height upwards against the sky. He is on a stage with an electric guitar, singing into a microphone. A large audience and stadium lights can be seen in the background.

Dave Grohl is pictured in action, sitting behind a red drum kit on stage with his sticks and hair flying as he looks wildly towards the camera.

Black-and-white portrait: Gary Clark Jr. stands in front of a white background wearing a black suit and hat. He is looking down with his hands outstretched in front of his jacket.

Inside The Story

Notre Dame

One of the greatest stages of our time is one on which true artists work without applause or an audience. Notre Dame. Tomas Van Houtryve documents the extensive restoration work on the cathedral following the devastating fire. In his series, 36 Views of Notre Dame de Paris, he showcases the work of these silent performers, whose patience, skill and sense of responsibility appear to be as impressive as the building.

Black-and-white image: A tall tower of scaffolding with numerous workers moving up to the top on different levels. The background is a cloudy sky.

Leica Portugal

50 Years of Togetherness

In 2023, the Leica factory in Vila Nova de Famalicão takes centre stage. Just as the knowledge passed down through generations here is invaluable, so too are the warm community of employees, their indispensable precision and their craftsmanship in general. The Portuguese part of the Leica family has been integral to the company since 1973 and remains a constant in an increasingly fast-paced world. It continues to embody consistency, diligence and a passion for photography that brings people together.