Leica M System

“24 x 36” Leica M photography portfolio 68 / 69
JEFF MERMELSTEIN (1957 New Brunswick/New Jersey – lives in Brooklyn/New York)
From the “Side Walk” series, 1987–1999
Jeff Mermelstein, winner of the coveted 1999 European Publishers’ Award is someone who represents a whole
new generation of documentary photographers. They are no longer satisfied with simply documenting reality.
When they set out to find pictures – preferably in an urban setting – they do so with a distinct and more or less
rigid concept in mind and with an uncompromising style that is at odds with the great exponents of the craft. In
Mermelstein’s case, these could be Leon Levinstein or Garry Winogrand. Except that Mermelstein works exclusively
in color and resolutely emphasizes the theater of everyday life, with all its comedy and tragedy. In his most
recent book “No title here” (2003), Mermelstein is once again a subtle chronicler of everyday surrealism.
Camera : LEICA M 6/Lens : LEICA SUMMICRON-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH.
Courtesy of Jeff Mermelstein