Leica photographers: Herbert Piel

 

In March of 2011 Herbert Piel will have a photo exhibition at the Leica Gallery in Solms, Germany.

 

Herbert Piel was born in 1957. He is a member of the German Photographic Society and the German Leica historical society.

Herbert started taking photographs with his father’s Leica IIIg camera when he was ten year old. In 1975 he bought an old Leica M3 and returned it after two weeks because he was not ready to make the switch to rangefinders. Two weeks later he bought the camera again.

Herbert Piel through the years

 

Ever since he has used M3/M4/M4 p mot/ M4-2/ M5 /M6 and a pair of Leica SL mots with a lens range from 21 to 280 mm. Two years ago Herbert switched to M8 “antipanda” which was a special edition of 100 cameras for the Japanese market (with an unbelievable smooth and quiet shutter) and later acquired also a M9. His lens collection ranges from 28 to 90mm and includes the latest 35 f/1.4 and an old 50mm Summilux. In his own words: “If my pics are not good enough, it must be my fault, because Leicas don’t fail!”

Herbert Piel started as a regional news photographer for a local paper in Germany and soon after that started to work all over Germany and Europe. He was 17 years old when he photographed the German Chancellor… in bed!

During the years, he photographed for the DPA (German press agency), Associated Press and several news magazines.

He travelled to crisis areas like Kosovo, Ethiopia, Russia, Tschernobyl, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and covered the political scene in Europe:

 

Starting on Dec 1st, 2010 Herbert Piel will present for the first time his work in an exhibition with 150 black and white prints (30x45cm). In March, 2011 he will have an exhibition at the Leica Gallery in Solms with 20 black and white prints (50x70cm). The German ambassador in Beijing is also planning an exhibition in 2011 at his residence and later in Shanghai, Macao, Hong Kong, and Singapore. After Europe and Asia, Piel’s greatest wish for 2011/2012 is to organize an exhibition in the US. If you are interested, don’t hesitate to contact him.

Here are some more images from Herbert Piel (you can click on any photograph in this post for larger view):

 

Special thanks to Herbert Piel for allowing me to share his great photographs here. All images copyrighted by Herbert Piel.

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