If you weren’t there, you truly missed out, and I’m not just saying that.

My introduction to LSI happened in the summer of 2022, thanks to a fellow member, Robert Chesrow, whom I met at a Leitz Auction Preview Event in Leica Store Los Angeles. Robert spoke enthusiastically about LSI, but honestly, I wasn’t that intrigued. I had stumbled upon LSI before, probably through documentation in one of my Leica cameras or glimpses on social media. Admittedly, my perception was that it’s a gathering of older Leica enthusiasts – uncertain of their purpose and perhaps not fitting my profile.

Robert mentioned Dublin, I brushed it off. New Jersey came up, and I ignored it again. Then he pitched Rome. I thought, why not? If the event turned out terrible, at least I’d be in Rome and get to sightsee a bit. So, a week before the event, I registered, and it turned out to be a delightful surprise.

The Rome event, with around 40 of us, was genuinely enjoyable. The smaller group size allowed me to connect with everyone. The speaker sessions and photo walks were fantastic, and by the end, we were all planning to meet again at the next one.

Now, Wetzlar. Because I had so much fun in Rome, I convinced all my friends to join me, including my boyfriend Kevin. Wetzlar wasn’t just “fun”; it was enlightening, eye-opening, entertaining, engaging, exciting, encouraging – basically a lot of “E” words. Let me tell you why.

Firstly, all the top execs at Leica graced the event, including Matthias Harsch, the current CEO of Leica AG, Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, the Art Director and Chief Representative of Leica Galleries International, Andrea Pacella, the Global Head of Marketing at Leica AG, and my hero Peter Karbe, the genius behind my beloved 0.95 Noctilux. I couldn’t believe I got to talk to them, shake their hands, and even hug some of them (sorry Peter! I’m not crazy, just overly enthusiastic!)

We toured the Ernst Leitz Museum, where they let me play the piano! A peek inside the secret vault of Leica Archives unveiled items I’d never even heard of. The photoshoot with Silvergrain Classics was a blast, but the bonus day to Loreley Rock and Bacharach was a highlight. Wandering the streets, snapping pictures, and making memories together reminded me why I got into photography in the first place – to connect with others.