Witnessing Conflict: An Evening with Documentary Photographer Laurin Strele

Images from crisis zones shape how we perceive global conflicts—but under what conditions are they created, and what decisions underlie them? On June 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., the Leica Store Wetzlar and Leica Welt invite you to an evening discussion with Austrian documentary photographer Laurin Strele. In a personal presentation of images and stories, he offers insight into his work in international crisis regions and reflects on the role of photography as a form of testimony.

Strele’s work is created in the immediate vicinity of political and social upheavals—often under conditions marked by uncertainty, time pressure, and latent danger. His photographs from countries such as Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon do not focus on spectacular moments of escalation, but rather on the often-overlooked realities of everyday life under exceptional circumstances. At the center are people whose lives are defined by loss, adaptation, and constant change.


The evening combines visual impressions with personal experiences from the practice of photography. Strele discusses closeness and distance in his interactions with his subjects, the decisions made at the moment the photograph is taken, and the ethical questions that arise when documenting conflicts. In doing so, photography is revealed not only as a medium of information, but also as a way of engaging with responsibility, attitude, and the limits of what can be shown.

At a time when images circulate globally and conflicts are frequently covered by the media, the event offers a nuanced perspective on their creation. It raises questions about the credibility of documentary work and the role of photographers as both observers and participants.

The event will take place on June 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar. Admission is 10 euros. The evening thus offers insights that go beyond published works and make the context in which the images were created comprehensible. Following the lecture, there will be an opportunity for discussion during an open Q&A session.

Laurin Strele is a documentary photographer based in Austria who regularly works in crisis and conflict zones. As a Leica Photographer, he focuses on long-term projects that explore social upheaval and the realities of life for the communities affected. His work has been published in GEO, Newsweek, and Der Spiegel, among others, and has been exhibited internationally.

Montag bis Sonntag von 10 bis 18 Uhr

Erwachsene	11,- Euro
Kinder bis 8 Jahre	Freier Eintritt
Ermäßigt*	4,- Euro
Familien	24,- Euro
Jahreskarte	29,- Euro