A CONVERSATION WITH DAN TAMARKIN - Leicapalooza and the Leica Legacy

This past July in Chicago, Leicapalooza brought together photographers, collectors, and enthusiasts for a celebration unlike any other, part challenge, part gathering, and entirely dedicated to the spirit of Leica.

For its founder, Dan Tamarkin, the event is more than a date on the calendar; it’s a deeply personal expression of connection, inclusivity, and the joy of photography. As

the owner of Tamarkin Camera, Chicago’s Leica destination, Dan has built more than a store; he’s created a warm, welcoming space where curiosity thrives.

In this candid conversation, he shares the origins of Leicapalooza, his vision for an open and inspiring photography culture, and why the Leica legacy continues to captivate.

From late-night ideas in Frankfurt cafés to friendships formed on the streets of New Orleans, his journey is as much about people as it is about cameras.

“Leicapalooza is more than a date on the calendar, it’s a celebration of connection, inclusivity, and the joy of photography” Dan Tamarkin

Q & A

Leicapalooza has grown into a vibrant celebration of Leica culture. How did it begin, and what do you envision for its future as a space for connection, inspiration, and storytelling?

I feel strongly that Leicapalooza should be free, inclusive and educational. And fun. I’m thrilled that attendees find it inspiring, and that they make connections. I hope that we can grow the event to encompass all of the Chicago photography community, and maybe even the Midwest! I hope that increasingly people will find Leicapalooza (and Tamarkin Camera) and that they’ll enjoy a warm and inviting introduction to the World of Leica.

Leicapalooza began as a late-night conversation with a friend at a little café in Frankfurt. We were joking around that Leica-people need to lighten up and take it easy. We imagined that they (maybe we, also) just need some exercise and to get back to the fundamentals of photography. What makes us take photos, why we love it. Let’s

make it a sport – challenges that go far beyond the everyday photography workshop. Like an Ironman challenge, or a rodeo! One of us suggested a Leica “Habitrail” and we laughed and laughed. So, big thanks to Tom Smith (of the Leica Akademie USA) for

Leicaplaooza and for a terrific night out. And the photo I took of Tom that night remains one of his favorites to this day. In July 2021, we held the first official Leicapalooza.

Tamarkin Camera and The Rangefinder Gallery offer more than gear; they offer an experience. What do you hope visitors feel or discover when they walk through your doors?

It is imperative that Tamarkin Camera offers a welcoming, warm, and inclusive environment to all visitors. I hope that visitors feel comfortable and curious. All too often, luxury stores and showrooms promote an exclusive feel, and I disagree with that. I find many art galleries, for example, to be cold and foreboding. Why? We try to

create an atmosphere where visitor is immediately welcomed. Questions are answered without a sales angle. Curiosities are nurtured and people have fun. Maybe they’ll buy something. We want visitors to come away with a welcoming and exciting experience, and for them to want to learn more about Leica.

Leica cameras are celebrated for their precision, lens character, and tactile beauty. What do you think keeps photographers so deeply connected to them, and how does that legacy continue to shape the way we see and capture the world?

I believe that Leica delivers three experiences, hopefully simultaneously: the finest German engineering, the best optics in the world, and the feel and emotion of holding the Leica. For most people, it is this third facet that so captivates photographers. There is nothing like the feel of the Leica. It’s compactness and heft in the hand is like no other camera. And the desirability and aspirational drive is what continues the Leica legacy. For those that use the Leica (and love using it) there can be no other tool. The Leica is the apparatus that seamlessly connects the mind and body, the eye to the

hand and hand to eye; the Leica is the tool that allows for unfettered creativity and helps us to bear witness, often without impacting the scenario we seek to capture.

The love of the Leica and its fascination – and the fine quality of the tool itself, is what keeps photographers coming back to the brand and heralding it as the only tool that works for them. The Leica fascination is the key; no other brand has this devoted a following, and such aspirational fanaticism as the Leica. After all, the best camera in the world is the camera you have with you. And when it’s a Leica, you’ll want to have it with you (like your favorite shoes or watch). You have timeless design in your hands, and the best of German engineering and optics. What’s not to love? This is the Leica

legacy.

You’ve traveled extensively with a Leica over your shoulder. Can you share a moment from your journeys when photography sparked a meaningful connection or revealed something unforgettable?

Having a camera on your shoulder is almost always a conversation starter. Especially today, where everyone has a smartphone and so they wonder, “Why would anyone even have a camera? Aha! That person must be a photographer.” And the guard comes down. Maybe they even pose for your photo… in any case, people know what a

camera is, and they know what it is used for. They understand. This is important if you want to capture a scene without interference or without becoming a part of the photo itself.

A few years ago, I was photographing a band of buskers in New Orleans and one of them looked up from his instrument and said “Leica!” I nodded and smiled at him. At a break, he approached me as I was reloading my camera and told me that he had studied photography in school, but playing music on the street is more fun – and more lucrative! I agreed, telling him about my degree in poetry, which doesn’t serve me much these days. He told me about his father’s Leica (which he now owns) that came from a guy in New York who was a famous Leica dealer, but he couldn’t remember the name. I said “Tamarkin?” and he jumped up out of his seat and he said,

“Yes! I would never have remembered that name, but I still have the receipt of sale! Yes, Tamarkin.” I told him that was my father, and that I am now continuing the tradition from Chicago. He was amazed at the coincidence, and we remain friends to this day – each time I visit New Orleans I look him up and hear him play.

If you could curate a dream Leicapalooza panel or exhibition, who would be featured, and what themes or stories would you want to explore?

We would love to have more, and varied, photographers be a part of a Leicaplaooza panel to discuss photography. And a group show with these folks would be amazing!

We’d invite:

• Cheriss May (@cherissmay)

• Charlice Lin (@noctigirl)

• Kevin Fickling (@kevinfickling)

• James Rice (@jsrice00)

• Eshanne Darling (@eshanne)

• Tom Smith (@tasmithpictures)

• James Nachtwey (@jamesnachtwey)

• Arthur Meyerson (@arthurmeyerson)

• Craig Semetko (@semetko)

• Mathieu Bitton (@candytman)

• Dan Winters (@danwintersphoto)

• Jimmy Chin (@jimmychin)

  
  

I’d want the panel to discuss their individual process in photography and what they love about the art form. The theme of what makes an image compelling is enough to fill a discussion, and I’d begin there. Also, I’d very much like to host a discussion of Susan Sontag’s essay “On Photography” which I think is a philosophical conundrum for

photographers, especially street photographers.

What does the future look like for Tamarkin Camera and Leicapalooza? Are there any new ideas, or directions you’re excited to explore?

The future of Leicapalooza is inextricably tied to Tamarkin Camera; it’s the corporate support that allows me to stage this event, this silly late-night idea, for the Chicago photography community. And, as Chicago’s Leica destination, Tamarkin Camera is positioned to offer not only Leica goods and services, but a fully array of programming, from artist talks & photo walks and marketing collaborations to

weekend workshops and international destination photographic journeys. Look for a lot more programming here at Tamarkin Camera, featuring photographers from around the country, and local to Chicago. We’re excited to host here in our new showroom

downtown, and to mount the occasional gallery exhibit. Additionally, our sister company, Tamarkin Auctions will have an increased presence next year here in our showroom, with multiple auctions of multiple brands for users, collectors and DIYers.

Thank you so much for the opportunity! I’m excited to be a part of this issue of Light & Paper Magazine.