Vernissage at Leica Welt

Ragnar Axelsson in Large Format

By Marwan El Mozayen / SilvergrainClassics

SilvergrainClassics Issue 25 cover film photography collage
Yesterday evening, Leica Welt in Wetzlar once again became a place where photography, atmosphere, and personal contact came together. The vernissage of Ragnar Axelsson, known to most as RAX, filled the space with a quiet intensity that felt closely aligned with the spirit of his images.
The Leica building proved to be an ideal setting for RAX’s photography. Seeing his work in a book is powerful, but standing in front of the large prints is something else entirely. The scale, the detail, and the surface of the prints unfold in a way that simply cannot be experienced in any other way.
RAX’s photographs have been shown in many international exhibitions, but this was the first at Leica Welt. He has had an intimate connection with Leica quite literally from birth — he says, “The first thing I ever saw was my dad’s Leica IIIG!”
SilvergrainClassics Issue 25 cover film photography collage

Ragnar Axelsson gives a special tour to SGC’s Developmental Editor, Charys Schuler

A Life Shaped by the North

His visual language is deeply shaped by the Arctic environment, the people who live there, and the fragile relationship between humans and nature. His images are not only documents, but also eloquent stories about endurance and respect.

Ragnar Axelsson and Christine Kaufmann at Leica Welt in Wetzlar

Karin Rehn-Kaufmann speaks to Ragnar Axelsson at the vernissage, Leica Welt, Wetzlar

The evening opened with an introduction by Karin Rehn-Kaufmann of Leica, who spoke about Ragnar’s life, his long career, and the relevance of his work today. When Ragnar later addressed the audience, he did so in a modest and reflective way. His calm presence and careful words felt closely tied to the places and conditions that have shaped his work.
SilvergrainClassics Issue 25 The Future of Film Photography

In the Leica darkroom (from left): Marwan El Mozayen (SilvergrainClassics), Ragnar Axelsson,
Anton Ivanov (Leica Welt)

A Special Moment Behind the Scenes

One day before the vernissage, we spent time with RAX in the darkroom and printed one of his images together.

The photograph was originally made digitally, but he had asked us to transfer it to film so it could be printed in the traditional way. We produced the negative on SilvergrainLab’s Agfa Alto, and Leica’s darkroom printer, Anton Ivanov, made the print in the Leica darkroom. On the first try, the print needed no further adjustments, which clearly impressed RAX.
SilvergrainClassics Issue 25 The Future of Film Photography

Darkroom of the Silvergrain Academy: Ragnar Axelsson, Marwan El Mozayen

 

More of Ragnar Axelsson Coming Soon!

We are very excited to welcome RAX as a featured photographer and interview partner in the next issue of SilvergrainClassics, which is scheduled to go on sale in early March.

 

More about RAX

RAGNAR AXELSSON
Books
Ragnar Axelsson: Where the World Is Melting

The AGFA Alto Color Film Recorder

The AGFA Alto Color Film Recorder transferring digital files to film
AGFA Alto Colour Film Recorder (16K) – Datasheet
AGFA Alto LS Colour Film Recorder (8K) – Datasheet
AGFA Alto User Guide – 209475-003_1994

A Fresh Start and New Benefits for SilvergrainClassics Readers

These online articles are free – we see it as our contribution to the film photography community. You can support this content by subscribing to our awesome print magazine about the entire world of analog photography!
https://shop.silvergrainclassics.com/subscriptions/