The LSI Conference and Annual Meeting is set for October 24-26! We will be traveling to Los Angeles in sunny California for our annual gathering.
Program highlights and speaker bios are listed below the registration form.
Our conference hotel is a short walking distance from Leica Store Los Angeles in Beverly Hills and is close to Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue, the Motion Picture and Academy Museum and more. Sunset Boulevard and the Hollywood Walk of Fame are both less than 15 minutes away by car. Universal Studios Hollywood and the Getty Center are within half an hour's drive.
Join the LA group in our WhatsApp Community, See you in Sunny California!!
Register Below!
Program
Program sessions and times are subject to change.
All conference meetings will be held in the Beverly Ballroom
Oct. 23, Wednesday - Attendee Arrivals
6:00-7:00 PM Informal Meet and Greet at Leica Store L.A.
8783 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048 - (424) 777-0341
Dinner on your own.
Oct. 24 Thursday - Conference Day 1
7:30-09:00 Registration
8:00-09:00 Leica-on-Loan.
There will be a significant selection of Leica cameras and lenses available to try overnight. Please bring your own memory card and/or film. Credit Card & ID Required.
8:00 - 9:00 Continental Breakfast - for meeting registrants only
9:00-09:30 Opening Remarks with LSI President David Knoble
09:30-10:00 Keynote Speaker: Mike Giannattasio, Leica US
10:00-11:00 Capturing Venice Beach with Leica with Dotan Saguy
Join us for an inspiring session as we delve into the making of three captivating photo books that chronicle the essence of Venice Beach. We'll explore why the use of the Leica Monochrom was central to Saguy’s timeless, heartfelt depiction of this iconic area. Discover the stories, techniques, and personal insights that shaped these stunning visual narratives.
11:00-11:15 Break
11:15-12:15 A Symphony of Light and Shadow with Katarina Benzova
Katarina Benzov is passionate about discussing her work as a documentary and music photographer, specializing in shooting in B&W. She also loves sharing her experiences working with the M11 Monochrom and discussing how photographers can use their skills to make a positive impact on the world. Print signing after session.
12:15-1:30 Lunch on Your Own
1:30 - 2:20 Session - Rotan Switch with Lisa McCord
Rotan Switch documents life on my grandparents’ cotton farm in the Arkansas Delta community of Rotan, which takes its name from the community’s central landmark – the railroad switch where farmers loaded their cotton bales onto trains headed out of the Delta. Although it has not been used in years, it remains a potent symbol of the complex intersections of industry and agriculture, of racism and injustice. Book signing after session.
2:45 - 6:00 PM Excursion to Venice Beach – (meet in hotel lobby)
Tucked between Santa Monica and Marina del Rey on Los Angeles’ sprawling Pacific Ocean coastline, Venice Beach is one of Southern California’s most multifaceted beach destinations. Here, you’ll find not only a beautiful, wide stretch of shoreline, but also pop culture icons like the Venice Beach Boardwalk and Muscle Beach. Its the perfect place for photo ops! Tom Smith of Leica Akademie will provide a suggested list of “photo assignments” to have fun with. Please see timeline below.
2:45 departure time for trip to Venice Beach. Bus transportation provided. Meet in hotel lobby.
Drop off address is Venice Beach Bus Drop-off 100 Venice Way, Venice, Los Angeles 90291 (near the Erwin Hotel).
Optional - Dinner on your own at Venice Beach or just enjoy everything there is to see
6:00 PM departure to hotel
6:00 Departure Time for Return to Hotel: Pick up is the same as the drop-off: Venice Beach Bus Drop-off 100 Venice Way, Venice, Los Angeles 90291 (near the Erwin Hotel).
7:00 Dinner on your own
Oct. 25, Friday - Day 2
08:00-09:00 Leica-on-Loan Reception area.
8:00 - 9:00 Continental Breakfast - for meeting registrants only
09:00-09:30 Stefan Daniel AG / Announcements
9:30-10:30 History in the Viewfinder with David Butow
Photojournalist David Butow describes his intent to bring viewers of his pictures into the scene, showing the emotion and dynamics as events unfold. Presenting work spanning four decades, he discusses gear choices, the impact of digital photography, logistics, as well as aesthetic decisions that comprise his style.
10:30-10:45 BREAK
10:45-11:45 Leica M. A Journey through the first 70 Years with Stefan Daniel
Stefan will take you through seven decades of development of the Leica M-System. From the first ideas to the M3, what SLR Cameras have to do with it, the role of Ernst Leitz Canada, why the M6 was born as it is today and how the M went Digital.
12:00 -1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00-2:00 Hollywood Euphoria on Set with Phil Caruso
In this conversation, award-winning photographer Phil Caruso takes us behind-the-scenes of his career shooting stills on-set of some of the greatest films of all time — movies including A Bronx Tale, Cape Fear, Casino, and Forrest Gump, and TV series “White House Plumbers.” Phil will also share his perspectives on the art of on-set photography, and shooting with both analog and digital technologies. This conversation will include an exclusive slideshow and audience Q&A.
2:00 -3:00 The Self-Portrait - A Personal Project with Richard Rejino & Kirsten Vignes
Self-portraits have been part of history for centuries. From Rembrandt and Van Gogh to Cindy Sherman and Andy Warhol, self-portraiture has been motivated by self-healing, self-expression, validation, documentation and more. In this session, Richard and Kirsten will explore the multi-layered benefits and discoveries of a self-portrait project.
Topics will include the technical considerations of self-portraiture and the creative benefits of committing to disciplined photographic practice. Presenters will share their personal reflections and realizations of being the focus of their own lens.
3:00-3:30 BREAK
3:30-6:00 Activities to Do On Your Own (transportation not provided)
Griffith Observatory Excursion - (Griffith Observatory - Southern California’s gateway to the cosmos!) 9 miles from hotel. No cost to walk around the grounds and enter the building. The Planetarium show is $8-$10 - no group or special rates. No advance purchase. Address: 2800 E Observatory Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027, Phone: (213) 473-0800 Hours are Weekdays 12-10 PM | Weekends 10 AM - 10PM.
Academy of Motion Pictures - (https://www.academymuseum.org/en/visit) 1.8 miles from hotel. Allow 2 hours. Museum open 10 - 6. General tickets $25/$19 senior/free under 17.: Address: 6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036-3604 | (323) 930-3000
Peterson Automotive Museum - 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Open Daily, Hours 10-5 PM; Normal rates are $21/$19 for seniors; LSI Price 19/17 pricing. 30-60 minutes. Go to petersen.org/tickets or call 323-930-2277. Tour 323-964-6348 for Guided Tours. (90 minutes) Contact: Marian Hong; 323-964-6322.
Street Photography Assignment - walking distance from hotel - instructions to be provided at the meeting.
6:00 Evening Event at Leica Store LA Gallery - Special Guest Speaker
7:30 Dinner on Your Own
Oct. 26, Saturday - Day 3
08:00-09:00 Return of all Leica on Loan equipment
8:00 - 9:00 Continental Breakfast - for meeting registrants only
9:00-09:30 LSI General Business Meeting and Election Results
9:30-10:30 Frame by Frame: Navigating the Creative Journey of Balancing Art and Commerce in Commercial Photography with Kwaku Alston
Come along on a journey through my image-making career spanning over 30 years. This lecture delves into the world of iconic images, videos, and stories capturing celebrity, politics, and culture. I’ll also share imagery from my personal work that fuels the artistic spirit and inspires my work in the commercial sphere. Together we'll explore the challenges of staying current, managing the unpredictable nature of the industry, and nurturing creativity through it all.
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:45 Kitchen Verite with Jim Sullivan
"Kitchen Verite” is a long term project by Leica photographer Jim Sullivan. The images were made over a nine year period using 35mm black and white film. The premise of the work is to document life in and around the professional kitchen. Volume 01 very limited edition book will be available September 12, 2024.
11:45-12:45 Finding Serendipity with Craig Semetko
Join Craig as he offers tips on how to bring more luck into your photography and your life. He will discuss the serendipity involved in capturing some of his favorite photographs from his first two books and from his upcoming “UNPOSED AMERICA.” He’ll also touch on his life changing health issue and how it’s affected his perspective.
12:45-1:45 Lunch On Your Own
2:00 - 3:00 The Music of Monochrom with Mathieu Bitton
Discover the story of two-time Grammy winner Mathieu Bitton’s progression from a thirteen-year-old lover of music and photography to a diverse career in art direction, design, production, and photography. He will highlight the role monochrom images and Leica Cameras have played in the development of his signature style and where he finds inspiration for his projects. Mathieu will showcase his iconic images in a series of “backstage moments” from his work with comedians, actors, and musicians, from Dave Chappelle to Lenny Kravitz, as well as a sneak peek of work from his forthcoming book, “Paris Blues.”
3:00-3:45 BREAK/Photo Editing/Upload Image of Choice
Link provided during session.
3:45 - 5:00 Photo Review with Paris Chong, Brad Husick, David Knoble
Join us for one of the most popular sessions every year: a review of the photos taken as part of photo assignments during the LA conference!
7:00 RECEPTION/BANQUET
Closing festivities include: 2024 LSI Photography Grant Recipient announcement and other award presentations
Speakers
Stefan Daniel is Vice President of Photo and Technology at Leica Camera AG, Wetzlar Germany. With four decades of experience at Leica, Stefan has played a pivotal role in the development and innovation of the company’s iconic products. Starting his career as a precision mechanics apprentice, he quickly rose through the ranks due to his deep understanding of precision engineering and passion for photography. Stefan is known for his dedication to preserving Leica's heritage while driving technological advancements, ensuring the brand remains unique in the camera industry.
Mike Giannattasio, President of Leica Camera North America
In his role as President of Leica Camera North America, Mike leads this iconic brand’s growth across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. With a career spanning more than two decades in luxury goods and consumer products, Giannattasio is known for his innovative leadership and strategic vision. Under his leadership at Leica, the brand has strengthened its position at the intersection of photography, art, and craftsmanship, fostering collaborations with leading artists, photographers, and innovators.
Prior to joining Leica, he held key executive roles at Richmont and LVMH, where he honed his expertise in building and transforming luxury brands. He focused on fostering strong relationships with retail and wholesale customer and the value of strategic brand awareness and market presence, allowing him to position products effectively at the forefront of the industry.
One key lesson Mike carries with him is the importance of engagement in leadership. By creating an environment that encourages everyone to strive for the best, he’s seen direct correlations to revenue gains. He brought this approach to Leica, where he continues to push boundaries. He is passionate about expanding Leica's legacy while adapting to the always evolving creative landscape. His is committed to preserving the brand’s heritage and inspiring others to engage with the art of photography.
Kwaku Alston has photographed some of the most famous faces of our time—from Oscar and Grammy winners to Barack Obama and the First Family. His portraits have a fresh, unaffected feel, and yet they celebrate the extraordinariness of his subjects, striking a balance between contemporary documentary photography and classic celebrity portraiture.
After graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Kwaku launched his career in New York City and began shooting for major magazines and ad agencies while in his early 20s. Today he bases himself out of both New York and Los Angeles and his work has appeared on everything from movie posters to the covers of best selling books to advertising spreads and spots for international brands.
Kwaku has also partnered with a variety of charities and nonprofits, including the DesignACure Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, the Black AIDS Institute, the Smiley Faces Foundation, and Project Angelfood. Giving both his work and his time, he traveled to Ethiopia to film and photograph a “shoe drop” by TOMS Shoes, which donates footwear to children in need worldwide.
Kwaku’s world travels continue to inform his work and remind him that curiosity, encouragement and sincerity are universal languages.
Photo by Per Bernal
Katarina Benzova is an award-winning photographer, videographer and art director. Originally from Slovakia, she is now based in Los Angeles and works around the globe. Katarina began her professional career in photography as the tour photographer for Guns N’ Roses in 2010. Since then, she has become one of the most sought-after rock photographers in the world, working with legendary musicians such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, KISS, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne, Anthony Kiedis, Courtney Love, and many others.
She was recently named Leica’s newest Ambassador and has presented her work in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including at the Cannes Film Festival, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Photography, FOCUS Art Fair in NYC, and others. Her fine art prints are available through the Morrison Hotel Gallery and The Rock Photography Museum.
In 2017, Katarina established her own foundation, MISSION 11, which produces photographic campaigns and services for charitable organizations, including Animals Asia, Janie’s Fund, The Wolf Conservation Center, and DoVE Project. These campaigns have featured star talent from Jason Momoa and Axl Rose to Moby, Steven Tyler, and Steve O, among many others.
Her work can be seen in ads for Maserati, Gibson Guitars, Fender, Monster Energy, Leica Camera, Live Nation, and Hard Rock Hotels, as well as in prominent publications such as LIFE Magazine, Rolling Stone, Vogue, and Billboard.
Paris-born artist Mathieu Bitton is a prolific photographer, designer, art director, and producer. He has photographed some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Quincy Jones, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Dave Chappelle, Lady Gaga, Mel Brooks, Sidney Poitier, Jay-Z, Bruce Springsteen, Penelope Cruz, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Seinfeld, Harry Belafonte, Jim Carrey, John Mayer, Morgan Freeman, David Letterman and Chris Rock. He has also designed and art directed an extensive catalog of albums, posters, books, and promotional materials for an illustrious range of films, musicians, and entertainers. When not creating commissioned works, Mathieu finds inspiration shooting candid portraits, stolen moments, and spontaneous street scenes. A common thread, whatever the medium, is capturing the truth of a subject and a moment. Among Mathieu’s numerous achievements are several Grammy nominations — including multiple wins — being awarded the medal of Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters, bestowed by the French Government, and receiving the Seal of the President of the United States from the White House for Paris Blues in 2024.
Mathieu’s successful exhibitions have included Travelogue (Los Angeles, 2013), Ascension (Vienna, 2015 and Sofia, 2016), Darker Than Blue (Los Angeles, 2016; Boston, Miami, 2017; Frankfurt, Wetzlar, 2018), and most recently Paris Blues (Los Angeles, New York, 2024), the inspiration and companion to this book. Mathieu has been honored to serve as an ambassador for Leica Cameras and he has partnered with and participated in several of their ad campaigns and events.
David Butow is a freelance photojournalist whose pictures have appeared in National Geographic, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, on the covers of TIME and Newsweek, and in many books and magazines worldwide. He began working professionally in the 1980s and has traveled to over two dozen countries to photograph social issues and news events such as the Los Angeles riots in 1992, the Palestinian/Israeli Intifada in 2000, the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Asian tsunami of 2004, and the Hong Kong democracy protests of 2019. His work on U.S. politics beginning in 2016 and culminating at the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol resulted in the monograph "BRINK", published by Punctum Press of Rome.
He has won awards from World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International, The White House News Photographers Association, and others and was featured in TIME magazine’s Top Ten Photographs of 2018 and 2022. He has been a guest lecturer at Stanford University and the Rochester Institute of Technology, and his photographs have been exhibited at various venues including the United Nations Headquarters, the Asia Society in New York, and at Visa Pour L'image in Perpignan, France.
Phillip Caruso Phil’s introduction to photography and film was at the age of 8 when he became the projectionist to his family’s screening room of 16mm films. His father worked as a cameraman, writer, and producer of documentaries, then features in the 1950s. He had an inventory of motion picture and still photographic equipment that Phil discovered. Phil first began use a 16mm camera at age 10 followed with a still camera, a Leica M3.
Phil’s film production experience began with the formation of his own production company Cineco Productions in New Orleans in 1969. In 1983, he was accepted into IATSE Local 666 in Chicago as a still photographer to begin union employment. He continued to work and relocate geographically to obtain cards from camera locals in Los Angeles and New York.
He began work for Ron Howard at the time he formed Imagine Entertainment for the movie Parenthood. While working on Backdraft, he was asked to become the on-call photographer to Robert DeNiro. Bob introduced him to Martin Scorsese on the filming of Cape Fear and continued to work on over 20 movies total for both Bob and Marty.
Phil’s most recent work was on Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis which was the second time Francis and Phil worked together.
Lisa McCord is a fine art and documentary photographer from the Arkansas Delta, who lives and works in Los Angeles and Arkansas. Focusing on her experiences on her family’s cotton farm, her creative practice explores concepts of storytelling, memory, and the passage of time.
She has exhibited her work in galleries and museums, including Leica Gallery LA, Annenberg Space for Photography, Building Bridges Art Exchange, and Bruce Lurie Gallery. McCord’s work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Memphis Cotton Museum, Fabrik Projects, Gallery 825, Slow Exposures, and Leica Gallery. Internationally, she has exhibited at the Museum of Nature of Cantabria in Spain, MIA Photo Fair in Milan, and Alta Vista in Paris. McCord’s work is in the permanent collections of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.
Her work has been featured in numerous publications including AAP Magazine, Black & White Photography (UK edition), Float Magazine, and Feature Shoot.
Dotan Saguy Dotan was born in a small Israeli kibbutz, grew-up in a diverse working class Parisian suburb and emigrated to the United States at the age of 25. In 2015 Dotan decided to leave his successful high-tech carrier to focus on his lifelong passion for photography. He then attended the prestigious Eddie Adams Workshop, Missouri Photo Workshop, studied photojournalism at Santa Monica College, and quickly garnered awards and recognition in the field. Dotan's photographs have been published by National Geographic, The Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and many others. He has been leading street photography and documentary workshops for the Leica Akademie, Momenta Workshops, and has started Storyteller Workshops in partnership with Gail Fisher, a distinguished photographer and editor from National Geographic and the LA Times. To date Dotan has published three monographs with the famed German publisher Kehrer Verlag: “Venice Beach, the Last Days of a Bohemian Paradise” (2018), "Nowhere to Go but Everywhere" (2020) and "DOGTOWN, the Pups of Venice Beach and their Humans" (2024). Dotan lives in West Los Angeles with his wife, Abigail and their dog, Beau.
Richard Rejino is the Executive Director of the Leica Society International. He is the author of What Music Means to Me, published by Hal Leonard Corporation. His writing and photography has been published in Viewfinder, Leica NA Blog, Music Inc., American Music Teacher, The Piano Teacher, and other publications. He is currently the Executive Editor for Pony Express(ions), SMU’s Graduate of Liberal Studies literary online journal. His photography has been featured at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California, and he is the 2015 winner of the LSI Annual Photo Contest. Next to being with his wife, Mona, and family, Maggie, Adam and Jess, Richard’s favorite thing to do is spending time exploring possibilities in music, writing, photography - and cooking.
Craig Semetko was born and raised near Detroit, Michigan, Semetko became a professional comedy writer and performer after college and years later discovered photography as another means of storytelling.
Craig was one of 10 photographers chosen by Leica Camera to be a part of its “10×10” exhibition celebrating 100 years of Leica photography. He spent three months in the fall of 2013 traveling throughout India for the project and the resulting work was exhibited at the grand opening of the new Leica headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany, in 2014. The work was the foundation for his book, INDIA UNPOSED, which won the Printing Industries of America's Benny Award for Best in Category/Best Art Book 2015.
In his foreword for Semetko's first book, “UNPOSED,” Magnum Photos photographer Elliott Erwitt wrote of Craig…"In my book, he is the essential photographer. That is, the one who sees what others could not have seen.”
Semetko has completed work on his forthcoming book “UNPOSED AMERICA” and it’s expected to be released in 2025. His latest project is figuring out how to stay alive after a double lung transplant.
Jim Sullivan is a photographer/director based in Southern California. He is a graduate of The Art Institute of California with a degree in Culinary Arts. He is a self taught photographer. He is a Leica photographer and a Leica Akademie Instructor, as well as a Brand Ambassador for Hobolite.
He has photographed and produced several cookbook. His newest photography book "Kitchen Verite" is SOLD OUT!
When not on location he can be found at home cooking and spending time with his family and their little French Bulldog "Mochi"
Kirsten Vignes has been with Leica Store Miami since 2012 and is the resident graphic designer and marketing creative. She works remotely and lives in Minneapolis, MN with her cat and husband. Kirsten is passionate about photography and design, which she studied at Rochester Institute of Technology. When she's not off climbing a mountain somewhere, you can find her volunteering with The International Leica Society and putting together their quarterly photography journal Viewfinder. She loves traveling to far off places, paddling and biking around the lakes in Minnesota, movies with mythical creatures, and, of course, coffee. Read some of Kirsten’s articles here.