Karine & Serge Nowak Photographes

Camera :

Leica M11 + Summilux 1 :1,4 / 75 mm

Leica M10 R + Summilux 1 :1,4 / 35 mm asphérique

Digital Print :

Canon Image Prograf PRO 2000 (12 colors)

Adobe Créative Cloud Photoshop CC & Lightroom CC

BIOGRAPHY :

Trained at the French National Audio-Visual Institute (I.N.A.) and member of the Professional Photographers Union, I use a digital Leica M and I realize myself the fine art prints of my photographs.

My husband offered me my first “true” camera : a Leica M8 (the first digital M) with a Summilux M 75mm. As a French Navy nurse specializing in medical radiology, he has extensive experience in photography and film development. We both decided to train at the French National Audio-Visual Institute in Paris, in shooting and digital development of images. Since then, Serge accompanies me in my reflexion and my practice of Photography.

During my childhood, i have been fortunate to practice piano, violin, painting and ice dance. It has probably developed my sensitivity to Art. My fist words when I discovered the Leica M were : “It’s a Stradivarius !”. The nature of my feeling with this camera was the same as when I experimented during my childhood, particularly with my violin : musicality, rhythm and phrasing are also essential in photography !

I opted for a digital rangefinder camera equipment with a prime lens. I create my shots with manual focus. The features of lenses are what define my bond with the subject. It invites to a form of slowness, allowing to seek out the image with a large place for the emotion. My relationship to Leica M photography is a philosophical journey over time, a way to look at the world in connexion with a century of tradition, innovation and History of Photography.

My shots consistently took me to the sea, which is the heart of my photographic practice. The sea can express turmoil and tranquility in equal measure and echoes every human passion and contradiction. Photography is an intuitive language involving body, heart, and mind. For me, artistic expression is closely linked to the beauty, the fragile, or even to some form of torment. Art turns indivudual turmoil in something greater, than taking on an universal dimension to its meaning. At that precise moment, Art becomes alive and surpasses the artist.

My first pictures have been published in “Le Monde 2 Magazine”. I then exhibited in various museums and published a photobook with my husband : “Poésea-Des bateaux et des hommes”. In 2017, I have been selected to exhibit at the “44ème Salon de la Marine” at Musée National de la Marine, Palais Chaillot, at Paris. My work have been distinguished by a Letter of Congratulations of the Chief of the Staff of the French Navy.

Since then, my photographs are regularly selected by the éditorial team of Leica Fotografie International (LFI Gallery), giving a new impulse to my photographic and artisitic practice. I have been finalist of several thematic Challenges initiated by Leica Fotografie International. My work has been published many times in “Viewfinder Magazine” (the magazine of Leica Society International). I have been selected for the collaborative exhibition “Leica Tour” at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, celebrating a century of Leica photography. More than 200 of my photographs have been selected by the éditorial team and been included in LFI Gallery and/or in the prestigious M Master Shot Collection of the Leica Fotografie International photogaphic fund.

AWARDS :

44ème Salon de la Marine, « Escales au Musée », Musée National de la Marine, Palais Chaillot, Paris (France). February to March, 2017.

  • Letter of Congratulations of the Chief of the Staff of the French Navy.

  • Exhibition Catalogue « Escales au Musée – 44ème Salon de la Marine », Jacques Rohaut, Association des Peintres Officiels de la Marine, 2017. ISBN 978-2-90251-002-3.

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LEICA FOTOGRAFIE INTERNATIONAL photographic fund :

My work is regularly selected by the editorial team of Leica Fotografie International, between more than 65 000 photographers from all over the world. More than 200 of my photographs have been included in the LFI Gallery and/or the M Master Shot Collection of the Leica Fotografie International photographic fund.

  • Finalist collaborative exhibition “LEICA TOUR” celebrating a century of Leica photography, Palais de Tokyo, June 14th & 15th, 2025.

  • Leica Fotografie International Challenge – Shortlisted “My Picture for the Future” Challenge. September 30th, 2024.

  • Leica Fotografie International Blog Entry – Looking Back 2021. January 1st, 2022.

  • Leica Fotografie International Challenge – Finalist Abstract Challenge. May 6th, 2021.
  • Leica Fotografie International Blog Entry – A Shortlist Abstract Challenge. May 6th, 2021.

  • Leica Fotografie International Challenge – Finalist Black and White Challenge. February 25th, 2020.
  • Leica Fotografie International Blog Entry – A Shortlist Black and White Challenge. February 25th, 2020.

  • LHSA-The Leica International Society Finalist “Notre-Dame Photo Project” 2020.

  • Leica Fotografie International Publication Blog – Exhibition and book « Poésea – Des bateaux et des hommes ». February 18th, 2015.

EXHIBITIONS :

  • Finalist of the collective exhibition “LEICA TOUR” célébrating a century of Leica photography, Palais de Tokyo, June, 14th & 15th, 2025.

  • Library Jacques Prévert, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin (Normandy, France). January to April 2022.

  • Naval Circle of Cherbourg, French Navy (Normandy, France). Exhibition “Month of Photography 2019”.

  • The Brick Lane Gallery (London, United Kingdom). Exhibition « Photography Now » from July 25th to August 6th, 2017.

  • Meeting of Photography « Focales 2017 », Villard de Lans (Rhône-Alpes, France). May to September, 2017.

  • 44ème Salon de la Marine, Musée National de la Marine, Palais Chaillot, Paris (France). Exhibition « Escales au Musée – 44ème Salon de la Marine ». February to March, 2017.

  • Naval Circle of Cherbourg, French Navy (Normandy, France). Exhibition “Month of Photography 2016” with the photographer Alain Gualina.

  • Cultural Center Hyppolyte Mars, Équeurdreville (Normandie, France). November, 2015.

  • Naval Circle of Cherbourg, French Navy (Normandy, France). Exhibition “Month of Photography 2015” with the photographer Alain Gualina.

  • Manoir du Tourp, Omonville la Rogue (Normandy, France). February to May, 2015. Exhibition extended to June, 2015.

  • Photographic Festival « 9 photographers, 9 places, 9 days », Chaussenac (Auvergne, France). Summer 2011.

  • Library La Grange, Saint-Paul des Landes (Auvergne, France). May, 2011.

  • Muséum of Art and Archéology, Aurillac (Auvergne, France). October to December 2010.

  • Atrium du Conseil Général, Aurillac (Auvergne, France). June 2010.

  • Museum of Water, Pont en Royans (Rhône-Alpes, France). Summer 2008.

  • La Chamade, Morzine (Rhône-Alpes, France). December, 2007.

PHOTOGRAPHIC JURYS :

  • Member of the Jury and Honored Guest at 8ème Renc’Arts Interarmées, Salle des Fêtes, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, July 2023.

  • Président of the Jury and Honored Guest at Salon Art & Marine, Cercle Chantereyne de la Base de Défense de Cherbourg, April 2023.

PUBLICATIONS & BOOKS :

  • Viewfinder Magazine Cherbourg Downtown by Karine Nowak, issue 57-4, Leica Society International, Dallas (USA). March, 2025.

  • Viewfinder Magazine Endless Blue by Karine Nowak, issue 56-4, Leica Society International, Dallas (USA). February, 2024.

  • Exhibition catalogue « Escales au Musée-44ème Salon de la Marine », Jacques Rohaut, Association des Peintres Officiels de la Marine, 2017. ISBN 978-2-90251-002-3.

  • Book « Poésea-Des bateaux et des hommes » Karine & Serge Nowak. Éditions du Cotentin, 2015. ISBN 979-10-90687-14-1. (French language).

  • Cover Photograph of the book « La rue des précaires » Soins psychiques et précarité Jean-Pierre Martin (Editions Erès, Paris 2011).

  • Le Monde 2 Magazine. January 19th, 2008, n°205.