Thomas Hoepker

Thomas Hoepker (1936–2024) was a German photographer and photojournalist. He began taking photographs at the age of 14 and sold his first images to newspapers while still at school. From 1959 he worked for magazines, initially for Münchner Illustrierte and Kristall, and from 1964 for stern. As a correspondent, he reported from places including East Berlin and, from 1976, New York. In addition to photography, he made documentary films and worked as a cinematographer. In 1989, Hoepker became the first German photographer to become a full member of Magnum Photos, serving as its president from 2003 to 2007. His best-known work includes portraits of Muhammad Ali and his photograph of New York on September 11, 2001. He received the Cultural Award of the German Society for Photography in 1968 and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1977.