At the launch of the Leica M9-P in Paris, Leica presented a new project resulting from the company’s cooperation with Magnum Photos. “It is an account of a young gondolier in Venice shot by Magnum photographer Alex Majoli, who has been a full member of the prominent photographers’ co-operative since 2001,” Leica said in a statement. “The images are much more than the simple documentation of a profession steeped in tradition, which still plays an important role in everyone’s image of the city today. They tell a vivid story. Vital, authentic and brimming with the essence of real life – it is a story captured with the Leica M9-P.” A video showing the making of this portfolio can be viewed on the Leica website.

Website: Leica

Leica Press Release

Leica Camera AG and Magnum Photos present a new multimedia essay

Alex Majoli shows shots from the everyday life of a gondolier in Venice

21 June 2011, 18.00 GMT: At the launch of the Leica M9-P in Paris on 21 June 2011, Leica Camera AG will be presenting a new project resulting from the company’s co-operation with Magnum Photos.

It is an account of a young gondolier in Venice shot by Magnum photographer Alex Majoli, who has been a full member of the prominent photographers’ co-operative since 2001. The images are much more than the simple documentation of a profession steeped in tradition, which still plays an important role in everyone’s image of the city today. They tell a vivid story. Vital, authentic and brimming with the essence of real life – it is a story captured with the Leica M9-P, a new tool for photographers.

The protagonist of the portfolio is Alvise Catullo Ragazzo, one of around 700 gondolieri in the city of Venice. Alex Majoli has captured moments of his everyday life between tradition and tourism: how his day begins with a straw hat and the traditional blue-and-white-striped garb of his trade, his way to work past the sights of the city and, of course, his skilful daily routine of rowing a Venetian gondola. Alex Majoli’s portfolio reveals much more – the very private scenes far removed from the bustle of the city. They show scenes of family life; the people behind the gondoliers. Alex Majoli has successfully recorded a sensitive portrait of a young man and his city that invites viewers to take a look at life behind the scenes in Venice, a city almost completely characterised by tourism.

A video showing the making of this portfolio can be viewed on the Leica website at:
http://bit.ly/M_Venice

An in-depth interview with Alex Majoli can be found at: http://magnum.leica-camera.com

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Photo: Image of Leica M9-P by Alex Majoli, Magnum Photos

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