Zabriskie Point. Death Valley, California, USA. 1995. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photos

Giza Pyramids with army of “trash people” by artist HA Schult. Unpacking of sculptures that arrived from Germany. Egypt. 2002. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photos

Throughout the time he was employed as a news photographer, he always saw himself as a journalist. It was only after becoming a member of Magnum that he began to recognize the role of the artist within that of the photographer. “A truly strong photojournalistic image is a reproduction of reality, nothing about it can be faked,” he said. “But today, there’s more room for interpretation of reality by the photographer: style, eye and aesthetic all matter. Even at Magnum, everyone has to make his own decision on how far he wants to go in presenting reality through his own eyes.”

Children playing at the Berlin Wall in Berlin-Wedding. Berlin, Germany. 1963. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photos

Maya Ceremony in a cave at Chicoy, near Coban. Maestro Cirilo and disciples lighting candles in observance of the Maya New Year. Guatemala. 1997. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photo

Hoepker’s work published in books includes DDR Ansichten - Views of a Vanished Country (2011), a portrait of East Germany spanning over three decades, and Return of the Maya (1999), an investigation of the lives and beliefs of Maya communities in Guatemala. His reportage and features in color revealed to many the alluring landscapes and scenery of America, Japan, China and many other places around the world. He also photographed revered artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Hoepker received the prestigious Kulturpreis of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie in 1968.

In 1976, Hoepker moved to New York. Later in his career, he shot and produced TV documentaries together with his third wife, Christine Kruchen. A retrospective exhibition, showing 230 images from 50 years of work, toured Germany and other parts of Europe in 2007.

The sun of the Japanese flag painted on a girl’s forehead. Tokyo, Japan. 1977. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photos

Double exposure of Andy Warhol in his “Factory” at Union Square. New York City, USA. 1981. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photos

In 2020, after Hoepker was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, he and Kruchen decided to take a road trip across the US - his home for the past four decades. This resulted in the documentary Dear Memories, exploring his life and work through his memories, released in cinemas in 2022. The same year, Hoepker published The Way It Was, juxtaposing the color photographs from his most recent road trip with the original black-and-white images of the past, taking us on a journey both through his changing sense of America and through time.

During the pandemic, Hoepker and Kruchen began going back through his very first black-and-white film negative files and scanning what they found. One of their discoveries was a series of 10,000 negatives showing a photographic study of life in Italy in the late 1950s - shot with the Leica MP he purchased at 19 years old with the proceeds of his very first picture sales. The photobook Italia, featuring a selection of these early images, was published in 2023 by Buchkunst Berlin.

A spectator at a parade of the German army, the “Bundeswehr.” Bonn, West Germany. 1967. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photos

“The Magnum family has lost one of its dearest members, Thomas Hoepker, today,” writes Magnum President Cristina de Middel. “A true visionary, Thomas’s contributions extended beyond his remarkable, playful, poignant photographs. As President of Magnum Photos from 2003 to 2006, he led with unwavering dedication and a commitment to nurturing the next generation of photographers and securing the future of the agency as a relevant entity. His legacy within the Magnum community is one of inspiration, mentorship, and a relentless pursuit of excellence combined with kindness and generosity.

“Thomas Hoepker’s work will continue to inspire and educate, reminding us of the power of photography to shape our understanding of the world. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues, friends, and admirers around the globe. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.”

Thomas Hoepker passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s on July 10, 2024, in Santiago, Chile. He was 88.

Two boys in rural Portugal. 1964. © Thomas Hoepker / Magnum Photos

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https://www.magnumphotos.com/newsroom/remembering-thomas-hoepker-1936-2024/

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