Split Seconds

Leica Gallery Nuremberg presents the exhibition ‘Iconication’ with works by Anatol Kotte, continuing until July 23, 2022.

Anatol Kotte (b. 1963) has gained renown for his portraits of actors, athletes, politicians and others in the public eye. He has captured famous personalities such as John Cage, Angela Merkel, Wolfgang Schäuble, Joachim Gauck, Jessye Norman, Til Schweiger or Sigmar Gabriel – as well as private individuals: Sasha from New York, Markus from Munich… a myriad of encounters, giving rise to exceptional images.

What expectations collide when a star and a photographer get together for a shoot? Will they be able to align their visions? Celebrities tend to be ferried from one engagement to another. In this seemingly endless string of appointments, Anatol Kotte is allocated a small time window.

“You now have a five-minute photo op,” the celebrity is told. This is the extent of their preparation. Anatol Kotte, on the other hand, has had plenty of time to prepare. Concentration and professionalism are condensed into a brief moment in time. “I’m on location well in advance, find my position and know exactly what I want to achieve,” the photographer explains. “The outcome is decided within the first split-second of the shoot.” Will he succeed in realising his vision? Anatol Kotte maintains: “I don’t create these pictures for myself. They are intended to outlive me.”

For further information visit Leica Gallery Nuremberg