In tribute to the extraordinary life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Leica Camera Inc. is supporting a national photography exhibition, titled "Countdown to Eternity." The exhibit opens today at the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY and runs through February 13, 2002. Countdown to Eternity provides a rare and compelling view of the famed civil rights leader through the eyes of internationally acclaimed photographer Benedict J. Fernandez. Fernandez photographed Dr. King throughout the year preceding his assassination using a Leica M3 camera. The exhibition contains 78 photographs, along with a Leica M6 Summicron 50mm f2 camera engraved with Dr. King's signature.

On February 28, 2002, the photographs comprising the exhibit, along with MLK 68 - a limited edition portfolio containing 15 of Fernandez exhibition photographs - and a hand-crafted Leica M6 camera engraved with Dr. King's signature, will be offered at auction at Swann Galleries, New York; the proceeds will benefit the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, GA. http://www.swanngalleries.com.