The analogue archive of Volker Hinz includes black-and-white and coloured negatives, slides and fine art prints. Complementarily, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek takes over the extensive photo library of the photographer. The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek will preserve this unique archive in its entirety in the long term, digitize it step by step and make it accessible on a worldwide level.

Born in Hamburg Blankenese in 1947, Volker Hinz became the head of the photo agency "Sven Simon Bildagentur" in Bonn at the age of 24. He came to the weekly journal stern in Hamburg in 1974. Volker Hinz worked for the journal for 38 years with only a short interruption, spending eight of these years in New York. His numerous photo-journalistic pieces for the stern, in particular his widely noticed portraits of famous persons, made Volker Hinz known far beyond Germany’s borders. Many of his images form part of the collective memory of his time today.

The credo of Volker Hinz:

The photographer must not bore people. There are already sufficient boring images.

Dr. Klaus Ceynowa, Director General of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek:

We are happy and proud to be able now to acquire the photographic work of Volker Hinz, which comprises his work for the stern and at the same time goes far beyond this, for our image archive. This underscores the library’s aspiration to curate one of the most important contemporary-historical photo archives of Europe. Through successive digitization this image cosmos will be activated for future worldwide visibility and use.

Press release for download  (PDF, 437 KB)

Contact persons
Dr. Klaus Ceynowa
Director General
Phone +49 89 28638-2201
direktion@bsb-muenchen.de

Ulrike Rehusch
Press and Public Relations
Phone  +49 89 28638-2057
presse@bsb-muenchen.de