Former Star-Photographer - Renowned German Magnum photographer Hoepker passed away
International renowned German photographer Thomas Hoepker is dead. He passed away at the age of 88, as Magnum Photos announced.
Hoepker was the author of some of the most famous photographs of the past decades. His iconic image from September 11, 2001, caused controversies: A seemingly relaxed group of young people are seen sitting together on a bench by the blue East River in New York. Behind them in Manhattan, thick smoke columns rise towards the sky after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in the metropolis.
Other well-known images by Hoepker include portraits of boxing legend Muhammad Ali: Ali with his fist right up to the lens, jumping in front of a skyline or eating ice in bed - Hoepker was right there. He also photographed artist Roy Lichtenstein in his studio or captured the energy of New York and the mood in America during the 60s.
Thomas Hoepker: Munich on the World Stage
Born in Munich in 1936, Hoepker studied art, history, and archaeology. However, his passion was photography, ever since his grandfather bought him a camera as a 14th birthday gift. Before the end of his studies, he was hired by the "Münchner Illustrierte" and joined Magazin "Stern" in 1964.
At the same time, he joined the legendary photo agency Magnum and was even its President from 2003 to 2006. In 1976, Hoepker moved to New York, where he worked as the visual chief for the magazine "Geo". His images inspired and were exhibited all over the world. In 2022, the documentary film "Dear Memories" was released, in which the Alzheimer-afflicted Hoepker embarks on a last road trip through the USA before it's too late. Hoepker explained his working method in a 2007 interview with the German Press Agency as follows: "One must also express one's opinion and not just compose beautifully. The photographer as an author is important. He should not only represent and register what happens, but develop a viewpoint towards his subject. Either you hate it or you love it, but lukewarm is always uninteresting."
Despite his Alzheimer's diagnosis, renowned photographer Thomas Hoepker, known for capturing Muhammad Ali in various poses, embarked on a final road trip across the USA in 2022, as documented in the film "Dear Memories." Prior to his move to New York in 1976, Hoepker, born in Munich, had a successful career in German magazines, shooting iconic images in Munich and New York, including his controversial September 11, 2001 photograph featuring young people near the World Trade Center smoke columns in New York.
