Oskar Barnack was born on November 1, 1879, in Nuthe-Urstromtal, Brandenburg, and died on January 16, 1936, in Bad Nauheim, Hesse. He was a German inventor and photographer who created in 1913 what later became the first successful 35mm still-camera. This camera was later known as Ur-Leica at Ernst Leitz Optische Werke, which is the Leitz factory in Wetzlar.

Life and career

Oskar Barnack was an engineer who worked for the Leitz company. He had asthma, so he wanted to make cameras smaller and lighter so he could take photos during his travels. In 1924, the camera was named Leica, which came from the words "Leitz Camera." It was shown to the public at the Leipzig Fair in 1925.

Between 1913 and 1914, Barnack changed 35 mm film used for movies so it could be used in still cameras. The film had holes and was held by special rollers, which made it easier to handle than other types of film. His design was new because it moved the film horizontally, allowing each photo to be 24×36 mm with a 2:3 shape. This was larger than other cameras that used vertical film. Smaller negatives could be enlarged to make clearer pictures. For this to work, the camera needed a high-quality lens that could produce sharp images on the larger film size.

Barnack tested many lenses to find the best one. At the time, lenses for other 35 mm cameras only covered the smaller 18×24 mm frame. The larger Leica frame size needed a lens that could cover the whole area. Existing lenses from Leitz and Zeiss were too big or did not work well. A special lens was needed. The first lens used for Leica was a 50 mm f/3.5 design based on the "Cooke triplet." This later became the well-known Leica Elmar series.

In 1923, Barnack convinced his boss, Ernst Leitz II, to build 31 test cameras for the factory and photographers. The prototypes had mixed reviews, but in 1924, Ernst Leitz decided to produce the camera. It became popular when it was shown at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925 as the Leica I (Leitz Camera).

Barnack was also among the first photographers to capture news images that showed how people interacted with their environment. He took the first news photo using a 35 mm camera, showing a flood caused by the Lahn River in Wetzlar.

In 1979, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award was created. It gave 5,000 euros and was presented in July at the Arles Meetings.

Oskar Barnack Award

An international jury gives the Leica Oskar Barnack Award to professional photographers. These photographers use their ability to observe and show how people and the environment are connected through a series of 10 to 12 images.

Each entry must be a self-contained series of images. The photographer must clearly show how people and the environment interact. The images should be creative, original, and use a modern visual style. Only one entry is allowed per photographer.

In addition to the main award and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award Newcomer Prize, ten finalists will each receive a cash prize of 2,500 euros for their series.

The winner of the main category receives 25,000 euros in cash, a Leica M camera, and a loan valued at 10,000 euros.