New Leica lens & initiatives extend users’ creativity

Displaying excellence when it comes to image quality, whether that takes the form of a new lens or a photographic exhibition, is at the heart of what makes Leica tick

Having installed a new UK MD at the start of this year (see BPI News Feb/March) the luxury camera brand is cracking on with new products and initiatives. Aimed at both photographers and videographers is the new Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3 telephoto zoom lens and Leica Extender L 1.4x

Described as the widest zoom in the SL system, the headline features of the former include a compact and lightweight design, optical image stabiliser to ensure blur-free images, plus precise auto focus for moving subjects, making it adept for nature, wildlife, sports and action photography. The lens features an Arca Swiss compatible tripod base and a lockable tripod clamp that allows it to be fixed securely at any angle, with the clamp locking every 90° for quick changes between landscape and portrait formats. Adding the Leica Extender L 1.4x extends the focal length even further to 140-560mm equivalent. It’s compact in size too, and weights just 182g. With the 100-400mm lens retailing at £1,190, the extender is £735. Both are available now from Leica stores, online and authorised dealers.

Exhibiting Excellence

In related news, judges have been announced for the 43rd Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA). Due to deliberate this May at Leica’s headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany, and select their winners from over 60 entries and 30 countries, are Caroline Hunter (Picture Editor for The Guardian’s Saturday magazine), Whitney Hollington Matawe (Photo Editor at TIME Magazine), Francois Hébel (Curator), Luca Locatelli (Photographer) and Karin

Rehn-Kaufmann (Art Director and Chief Representative Leica Galleries International)

Since its inception in 1980, the selection of LOBA winners is based on proposals submitted by a panel of nominators, made up of photography experts from across the globe. The stipulation is that pictures must be documentary or conceptual artistic works dealing with the relationship of people to their environment.

Over the coming summer months the shortlisted nominees’ work will be presented on the LOBA website, with the award ceremony due to take place on 12th October 2023 in Wetzlar. The Main Award winner receives 40,000 Euros in prize money and Leica camera kit worth another 10,000 Euros, with the Newcomer Award winner getting 10,000 Euros and a Leica Q2. For more visit: www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com/en/

Last month Leica also marked International Women’s Day by announcing the fourth annual Leica Women’s Foto Project winners, which this year came from the UK, US, Canada and Mexico. Each winner received a Leica SL2-S camera, a Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH lens plus $10,000 to support their work.

The work of the UK’s winner, Anna Filipova, explores unique environmental and scientific topics in remote and inaccessible areas. For example her winning project ‘Arctic: The Darkest Hours’ explores Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, where the largest laboratory for modern Arctic research is housed, along with the research scientists who make up most of the population. This area has the cleanest air on Earth, but also receives circulated air from Europe and North America, allowing for extensive research of post global warming conditions.

“We were delighted to have the UK market join the fourth iteration of the Project and received a wide body of work from extremely talented photographers,” enthuses Leica UK’s Head of Marketing and PR Lydia Beagelman. “This award highlights the female perspective and identifies the importance of capturing moments that bear witness to how we see and interact with our world.”

Speaking of photography documenting people’s relationship with their environments, the Leica Gallery in London is currently exhibiting a selection of photographs by Andy Summers, guitarist for The Police, which runs until April 30th. Entitled ‘Harmonics of the Night / A Series of Glances’ the shots were taken by Andy during his time travelling the world with the band, capturing street scenes across America and Japan, South America and Europe.

“The qualities I am looking for are musical,” he explains. “That is the condition. You think of music in terms of harmony, line, shape, volume, quietness and dynamics. I think all of those terms can be translated into photography.” Having had his interest initially stirred by the Leica M4-2, he adds: “I was hooked immediately. I felt that the Leica slowed down my picture taking; made it more meditative, made me think more before pressing the button. With this camera I felt as if I was finally stepping onto the true path.” www.leica-camera.com

New for photographers from Leica: Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3 and Leica Extender L 1.4x