LSI Annual Meeting | October 21 - 25, 2026

Wednesday, October 21, 2026     Arrival day for participants

5:30 - 7:30 pm   Attendee Meet & Greet - at the Library Bar (Hotel David Whitney)

Thursday, October 22, 2026

8:00 am             Registration Opens

‍ ‍Leica-on-Loan

‍ Hot Breakfast

9:00 am  President’s Introductory Remarks

9:15 am     Attendee Introductions

10:15 am    Break

10:30 am      Speaker: Evan Lewis – Aerial and Automotive Photography with SL3-P

Noon   Lunch on your own

1:30 pm Members’ Showcase - Sean Sweeney, Mike Kerouac, Helmut Ziewers

Sean Sweeney’s goal is simple: to take a photo that might just become your favorite photo of yourself. His journey with photography started in the Boston area. Growing up in Milton, just eight miles south of the city, he discovered his passion as a teenager when he picked up his older brother’s camera. In those early days, Sweeney spent hours in the cellar of our family home, learning the patient art of processing film and watching stories come to life in the dark. As technology evolved, so did Sweeney. He made the leap to digital back in 1997, always eager to embrace new ways to capture the world around me. His roots kept him local—from his high school days at Thayer Academy in Braintree to Northeastern University in Boston—and his love for the community deepened. For Sweeney, photography is entirely about connection. He truly enjoys meeting new people and making them feel entirely at ease in front of the lens. Photography isn't his profession; it is his passion.

Mike Kerouac is a retired Fortune 100 tech executive now residing on Cape Cod. Kerouac is an award-winning portrait and travel photographer with interests in many other genres.  His current focus is on street photography, documenting Cape Cod and experimenting with infrared. He regularly swaps between digital and film in multiple formats. Kerouac has been an avid photographer since his teen years. Since his retirement in 2021, he’s been able to focus 100% on photography, significantly broadening his skills and enjoying his life-long passion to the fullest.

Born in 1964 in Trier, Germany, Helmut Ziewers studied Mechanical Engineering at Fachhochschule Trier before specializing in manufacturing engineering simulation software. His career brought him to Detroit, where he established his company’s first branch office outside Germany. After years of exciting but demanding work, he turned to photography as a way to slow down in his spare time. At 50, encouraged by his Leica enthusiast brother, Ziewers bought his first camera—a Leica MP-240. What began with photographing lost places, travels, and people soon evolved into a passion for Detroit and its architectural history. Now retired for three years, Ziewers devotes much of his time to documenting Detroit through photography.

2:30pm Historic Architecture Tour - with Rod Arroyo. Photo walk and access to

significant buildings. (30-minute presentation followed by photo walk)

‍ ‍After lecture, meet at Fox Theater at 3:30pm.

 7:00 pm Dinner on your own

Friday, October 23, 2026

8:00 am                  Leica-on-Loan

Hot Breakfast             

9:00 am LSI Annual Meeting - Chaired by LSI President including Q&A

10:15 am Break

10:30 am Red Dot Forum Camera Talk LIVE – hosted by David Farkas and Josh Lehrer

Noon     Lunch on Your Own

1:30 pm                 Speaker - Stefan Daniel, Leica Global Ambassador

2:00pm Speaker - David Knoble - “Antarctica from Planning to the Print”

3:00 pm                 Speaker - Andy Shields - “Detroit Street Photography”

Andy Shields is a street and documentary photographer who has been recording life in and around the metro Detroit area for over a decade. Favoring the impromptu and the unposed, he uses Leica analog rangefinders with wide-angle lenses to make images with a sense of space and involvement. Shields has had images in many exhibitions across the county as well as work featured in popular blogs, podcasts and photo books.

4:30 pm Photo Walk - with Detroit street photographer Andy Shields

6:30 pm Dinner on your own

Saturday, October 24, 2026 

8:00 am            Return all Leica-on-Loan equipment

Hot Breakfast

9:00 am     Morning Announcements

9:05am. Speaker - David Smith - “Leitz Microscopes” (Lecture and RAFFLE)
‍ ‍One lucky attendee will win a vintage 1930’s Leitz microscope. Winner will be randomly selected - must be present to win.

9:50 am Photo Trek - depart for Detrioit Eastern Market

(30 min walk from hotel. Taxi/uber recommended.)

Noon Lunch on your own

1:30 pm       Editing / Select Your Images for Review

2:00pm LSI Connect Overview and AMA

3:00 pm     Image Review / Commentary

6:00 pm                 Motor City Farewell
‍ ‍Join your fellow LSI participants for a farewell gathering featuring cocktails, hors d’ouvres, and camaraderie. A great way to say goodbye to both new and old friends before we meet again in Chicago

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Excursion to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (Separately ticketed event)

Join us for a day trip to The Henry Ford Museum and the attached Greenfield Village,  America’s greatest history attraction. Both the museum and the village offer exceptional photo opportunities. The Village includes such landmarks as Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park Laboratory and the Wright Brothers’ bike shop. Ride the historic railways and Model T cars through the village.  The Museum houses some of America’s most historic treasures including the Rosa Parks bus, Lincoln’s chair from Ford Theater and the JFK limo. The Façade of the museum is a direct replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Bus transportation will be included, as well as all entrance fees. Lunch will be available for purchase in the Greenfield Village. We may not be back to the hotel until 6pm or later, so we recommend staying an additional night if you choose to join the excursion.