My Master Series of Photographers include the many people I have met, who encouraged me and exposed me to an unknown opportunity, the world of photography. My first photograph was of my son, 48 years ago. It was truly my beginning as a mother and being able to create a photograph of him that slowly developed in the darkroom. As a mother and as a photographer, there is an unexplainable and grateful joy! I continue to learn, listening with eyes and heart open to the world around me with appreciation of all we love and see. We as photographers try to express with our minds and heart our observations and concerns either with our cameras, words, art, or music. We listen to the whispers that encourage us to be and create, paying attention to the world with courage and hope for the future.

The “100 Photographers – 100 Portraits” exhibited at Leica Gallery Wetzlar are masters who became cherished friends. In permitting me to enter their world of photography, I have learned from them. They focus their camera on what is meaningful to them and share the images with us. I am grateful to them all and to those who have made this exhibition possible. It is with gratitude to Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Director of Leica Galleries International, who helped plan the exhibition with the assistance of Inas Fayed, Editor-in-Chief of LFI Magazine; Tina Wiesner-Muth, Leica Cultural Projects; Wolfgang Schaefer of Brieke GmbH Frankfurt who made the beautiful black-and-white prints printed on Hahnemühle paper (sponsored by Hahnemühle) and Doug Abdelnour of Bedford Photographic who made the 100 scans for the exhibition.

I regret I have not been able to include more of the photographers in our world of photography. I hope my master series will be a continuing project where I will have the opportunity to meet and photograph the many masters who are not yet exhibited in this series.
– Claire Yaffa
You can also see more of Claire’s work on her website, www.claireyaffa.com.