Thomas Hoepker

Thomas Höpker (2009)

Thomas Hoepker (German: Thomas Höpker; 10 June 1936 in Munich, Germany) is a German photographer and member of Magnum Photos known for stylish color photo features. He also documented the 9/11 World Trade Center destruction.

Career

Hoepker first began taking pictures when he was 16 and received an old 9x12 glass plate camera from his grandfather. He developed his prints in his family's kitchen and bathroom, and began to earn a little money by selling pictures to friends and classmates. Hoepker studied art history and archaeology from 1956 to 1956 at Goettingen, in Munich, Germany, where he was taught about understanding images and composition. While in school he continued to photograph and sell images to help finance his education.^[1] From 1960 to 1963 he worked as a photographer for Münchner Illustrierte and Kristall, reporting from around the world. Then in 1964 he began working as a photojournalist for Stern (magazine). In the 1970s he also worked as a cameraman for German TV, making documentary films. In 1976 he and his wife, journalist Eva Windmoeller, relocated to New York as correspondents for Stern. From 1978 to 1981 he was director of photography for American Geo. From 1987 to 1989 Hoepker was based in Hamburg, working as art director for Stern.^[2]

Magnum Photos first began distributing Hoepker's photographs in 1964. Hoepker became a full member in 1989. He served as Magnum President from 2003 to 2006.

For much of his career Hoepker used Leica cameras. In the 1970s he began to also use Single-lens reflex cameras alongside his Leica, using Leicas for wide angle shots and Nikon or Canon cameras with zoom lenses. In 2002 he began using digital SLRs.^[3]

Today, Hoepker lives in New York with his second wife Christine Kruchen, with whom he produces TV documentaries.

Exhibitions

• 2006, Photographien 1955-2005, Photomuseum, Munich, Germany
• 1995, Retrospective, Claus Tebbe Gallery, Cologne, Germany
• 1994, The Maya Kunsthalle Cologne, Cologne, Germany
• 1985/87, Retrospective, 25 cities in Germany
• 1976, Rizzoli Gallery, New York and Rizzoli Gallery, Washington D.C., USA
• 1965, Kunst und Gewerbe Museum, Hamburg, Germany

Filmography

• 2005, Ice-cold Splendor
• 2003, Easter Island
• 2000, Robinson Crusoe Island
• 1998, Death in a Cornfield
• 1973, The Village Arabati

Bibliography

• 1957, Jugend in dieser Zeit, Steingrüben, Germany
• 1960, Finnland, Terra Magica, Germany
• 1963, Lebendiges Kiel, Presseamt der Stadt Kiel, Germany
• 1963, Yatun papa. Father of the Indians. Dr. Theodor Binder, Kosmos, Germany
• 1967, Horst Janssen, artist’s portraits, Galerie Brockstedt, Germany
• 1974, Die Iren und ihre Lieder, (Ireland and its songs), Germany
• 1976, Berliner Wände, C. Hanser, Germany
• 1977, Heinz Mack, Expedition in künstliche Gärten. Art in Desert and Ice, Sternbuch, Germany
• 1978, Vienna, Time/Life books, Holland
• 1983, Thomas Höpker (I Grandi Fotografi), Rizzoli,Italy
• 1983, Die New York-Story, GEO Buch, Germany
• 1984, Now! Überdosis New York/ HA Schult., Germany
• 1984, Der Wahn vom Weltreich: Germany’s former Colonies, Sternbuch, Germany
• 1985, Ansichten.Fotos von 1960 bis 1985, Braus, Heidelberg, Germany
• 1985, Leben in der DDR. Life in East Germany, Sternbuch, Germany
• 1986, Amerika: History of the discovery from Florida to Canada, Germany
• 1986, HA Schult, New York ist Berlin, Germany
• 1987, New Yorker: 50 unusual portraits, Stemmle, Schaffhausen, Germany
• 1988, Rome, Hofmann & Campe, Germany
• 1989, HA Schult, Fetisch Auto, Germany
• 1991, Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, Philip-Morris books, Germany
• 1998, Return of the Maya: Guatemala. A Tale of Survival, Henry Holt, USA. ISBN 978-1-899235-81-0
• 2005, Thomas Hoepker, Photographien 1955-2005, Schirmer & Mosel, Germany. ISBN 978-3-8296-0219-8
• 2013, Thomas Hoepker, New York, teNeues, Germany. ISBN 978-3-8327-9712-6
• 2013, Heartland. Berlin: Peperoni. ISBN 9783941825451.

Awards

• Kulturpreis, Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Photographie, 1968
• first prize for Death in a Cornfield, a TV film on Guatemala, from the German ministry of foreign aid, 1999

References

1. Interview with HP
2. Magnum Photos biography
3. Leica M8 Field Report

External links

• Essay by Hoepker in Slate (magazine) about one of his 9/11 photographs
• Interview with Charlie Rose about photographing 9/11, recorded Oct. 31, 2001
• Magnum Photos biography
• Hoepker's portfolio at Magnum
• Interview with HP