On Wednesday, September 6th, Leica Gallery Los Angeles premieres photographer Doug Menuez’s latest work – Fearless Genius: The Next Generation. Known for capturing the likes of innovators in action including Steve Jobs during his creation of the NeXT computer, Menuez continued documenting history in the making – the newest class of up and coming technology trailblazers dedicated to social good. This never-before-seen gallery was shot by Menuez exclusively on Leica’s mirrorless SL camera system. Below is a press release with further details:
Leica Gallery Los Angeles Unveils Doug Menuez’s Fearless Genius: The Next Generation
Next wave of tomorrow’s innovators captured in never-before-seen gallery from prolific photographer
August 21, 2017 – Leica Gallery Los Angeles is proud to present the premiere of celebrated photographer Doug Menuez’s Fearless Genius: The Next Generation on September 6th. The gallery exhibition, shot exclusively on Leica’s mirrorless SL camera system, will showcase the newest class of up and coming technology trailblazers. In addition, Menuez will host a Leica Akademie workshop from September 8th through 10th, following a welcome reception on September 6th.
Leica is also proud to support the next phase of Menuez’ Fearless Genius project: a documentary, TV series, immersive exhibits, apps and non-profit education program designed to inspire the next generation of innovators. Over 100 million people have been exposed to the project to date through worldwide exhibitions, talks, viral press and his book Fearless Genius: The Digital Revolution in Silicon Valley 1985-2000, which started with Steve Jobs’ giving Menuez unprecedented access to capture his struggle to create the NeXT computer. Menuez continued documenting the greatest innovators over the course of 15 years, documenting history in the making as they built the technology that changed our world.
Menuez’s other work includes magazine coverage of news, sports, Hollywood, climate change, social issues and behind-the-scenes moments in American politics.
In this never-before-seen exhibit at Leica Gallery Los Angeles, his images show a new culture within technology. They primarily document a college hackathon, where students competed to write the most elegant code, producing unique and disruptive innovations. Most notable, though, was the intent of these nuances: social good. “This mission might not seem like a major factor, but for anyone following tech, it is, in fact, a very big deal. It’s the return of the early values of Silicon Valley that drove the biggest breakthroughs: a better life for us all, using technology to get us there,” said Menuez.
“This work looks at the next generation of visionaries and entrepreneurs as they attempt to catch the next wave of technology and improve the world we live in,” says Menuez. It builds upon his previous work, further attempting to reveal the culture and daily lives of the secretive tribe of technologists working mightily to invent the items and nuances that change every aspect of human life.”
After many years of shooting privately with his Leica M camera, Menuez now shoots his commercial work exclusively with the Leica SL, joining the Leica family of photographers. Menuez shared: “The camera is the means to expressing your vision. I’ve never fetish-ized cameras; they’re just a tool for taking pictures, but when I first held and shot this camera, my mind expanded,” said Menuez. “My whole life has been about documenting the human condition, the core of what we all share, and communicating that to an audience. I needed a camera that enabled my mission with an intuitive and natural fit, and this is it.”
Doug Menuez’s Fearless Genius: The Next Generation will premiere on September 6th, 2017 at Leica Gallery Los Angeles. For more information, visit https://leicagalleryla.com/. For more information on Leica Akademie with Doug Menuez, visit http://leicaakademieusa.com. For more on Doug Menuez and the Leica SL, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68fjM3-lwvw.
