Photographing the 2013 Opening of Leica Store LA
It might be old news that Leica opened a store in Los Angeles back in 2013, but nonetheless, it’s still a place that will be an important photography destination for years to come and definitely worth a visit if you’re in L.A.
Photographer Art Gray was on-hand (shooting on a Leica of course) to document the opening of the three-level, 8,000 square foot superstore — a space that includes a 1,000-pound stainless steel sculpture by Liao Yibai in the form of a massive representation of a Leica aptly titled “Fake Leica” (and with a reported price tag of over $1 million).
Complete with a VIP lounge, the ultra glossy Leica store is of course a swank shopping spot as well as a frequently-used studio space for commercials and ad work. As would be expected, there’s the complete Leica line-up of cameras — everything from compact cameras to M and S System and even Cine lenses.
Then, the thing that really interested me was an an extraordinary gallery which includes a library curated by renown Magnum photographer Martin Parr as well as exhibitions by by artists focusing on rock and roll and entertainment — a perfect focus for Los Angeles.
About the author: Chris Armstrong started as a photographer nearly 30 years ago and has worked his way through film, television, advertising, and back to photography (this time as an agent). Chris has worked with legendary filmmakers (most notably Robert Altman); nearly all of the major production companies in L.A.; and numerous ad agencies (including Deutsch L.A., Publicis, and Wunderman).
All of this experience has given Chris a well-rounded (if not dysfunctional) view of the creative world which he’s more than happy to share with you. This article originally appeared on PhotoPolitic.
Image credits: Video and photographs by Art Gray and used with permission
