Munich Tip: Icons of Photographic Art

200 Years of Photography and a Gallery for Fine Art Photography

The history of photography began in 1826 when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce used his camera to expose what is now the world's oldest photograph for a full eight hours; since then, only a few photographers have achieved global renown with their iconic images

The 200th anniversary of photography sheds new light on the photographers of the last century - and a Munich gallery has been presenting unique photographic art to international collectors for 24 years (ENGLISH, ITALIANO, DEUTSCH)

Dating back to 1824, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce’s image shows the view from a window over the rooftops of Saint-Loup-de-Varennes; it exemplifies the expansive vision of the photographic medium—a vision that has inspired countless photographers worldwide to capture a "window" onto their own times. Over the last century, a select few photographs have achieved iconic status because the person behind the camera possessed a unique instinct for light, subject matter, and singularity—as well as the perfect timing to press the shutter release at just the right moment. The 200th anniversary of photography casts a new spotlight on these photographers, whose work is now exhibited in museums and institutions worldwide—including the Munich Photography Museum (part of the Munich City Museum). Collectors across the globe actively seek out these rare examples of photographic art—specifically signed, limited-edition gelatin silver prints—by these iconic photographers.

Eckhart Schmidt (1938–2024) interviewed Terry O’Neill (1938–2019) at his exhibition in 2013—pictured here with Stephen Hoffman (left), Galerie Stephen Hoffman, Munich; photo: Helga Waess.

 

Our photo was taken at the Galerie Stephen Hoffman at Prannerstrasse 5 in Munich’s Old Town...

...where the exhibition "TERRY O’NEILL – 50 Years of Iconic Photography"—featuring limited-edition, signed original prints—was on display from October 18 to December 23, 2013 (below, we list Terry O’Neill’s exhibitions in Munich, where we personally met the person behind the camera—as well as other iconic photographers).
Currently, the gallery is showing photographs from the exhibition "Marilyn Monroe – 100th Birthday: Original Photographs by Famous Photographers."
 

Icons of photographic art and encounters with their photographers at Munich exhibitions

For over 24 years, the Galerie Stephen Hoffman in Munich’s Old Town has not only exhibited and offered iconic collector-quality photographs but has also honored the photographers themselves through rotating displays as well as group and solo exhibitions.

A must-visit for photography enthusiasts in Munich: the list of photographers on the website demonstrates the unique nature of this fine art photography gallery’s portfolio (the link leads to the Galerie Stephen Hoffman homepage).

At exhibition openings in Munich, visitors have the opportunity to meet the people behind the camera in person at Stephen Hoffman’s gallery. Photography enthusiasts and collectors fondly recall the exhibitions and encounters with internationally renowned photographers who personally attended their openings, sharing fascinating stories about the creation of various images, subjects, and techniques.

 

Exhibitions by Terry O’Neill at the Stephen Hoffman – Fine Art Photography – gallery in Munich

April 29, 2016 – June 4, 2016: “Breaking Stones” (photographs by Terry O’Neill) – featuring limited-edition, signed original photographs

January 20 – March 5, 2016: “David Bowie. Special Show” (photographs by Terry O’Neill) – featuring limited-edition, signed original photographs

March 13 – April 30, 2015: Terry O’Neill – “Rock’n’Roll Album” – featuring limited-edition, signed original photographs

October 18 – December 23, 2013: Terry O’Neill – “50 Years of Iconic Photography” – featuring limited-edition, signed original photographs
 

Munich: In memory of Sebastião Salgado

 In loving memory of Sebastião Salgado

Sebastião Salgado - In memory of the great natural philosopher with a camera, idealism, and a message

Sebastião Salgado died, May 23, 2025 (DEUTSCH)

Paris. Sebastião Salgado (1944 in Brazil to May 23, 2025 in Paris) was a natural philosopher with a camera, idealism, and a message. As announced by the French Academy of Fine Arts in Paris, the renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado passed away yesterday after a serious illness at the age of 81. We remember the haunting photographs from the early 1990s: In 1991, Sebastião Salgado walked with the special fire brigade from Calgary, Canada, through the burning oil fields of the Emirate of Kuwait, documenting the full extent of the destruction and the individual's ability to stop the inferno. He waits with the fire chief through the blackened earth, up to his ankles. The viewer of this photograph - which is exhibited at the Stephen Hoffman Gallery (see below) - feels the heat of the burning oil fountain shooting high into the air. Feeling the heat and the danger before his eyes, the photographer documented this scene to show the world. He followed the firefighter. One will stop the blaze, the other will document what a single individual can show: that it is never too late. Targeted explosions seal the boreholes, those fire-breathing wounds in the earth. The knowledge and courage of a few courageous firefighters end the disaster.

Shop window of the Stephen Hoffman Gallery in Munich with the original photograph by Sebastião Salgado "Burning Oil Fields in the Emirate of Kuwait, 1991", Photo: Helga Wess (Pressearchiv )

At the Stephen Hoffman Gallery in Munich, we saw exhibitions of original photographs by Brazilian documentary photographer Sebastião Salgado

In haunting black-and-white images, Salgado documented natural phenomena and images of people that show our world as it is rarely seen. A photograph represents everything Sebastião Salgado wants to show.

In lengthy photo projects, the documentary photographer not only highlights the world's wounds, as in his Africa project. No, he also wants to show what remains undamaged. In his Genesis project, he devoted nine years to the last natural phenomena that have largely been spared from human influence.

In his Genesis book, he speaks of 46 percent of nature remaining undamaged. Salgado traveled around the globe. He wants to draw attention to what is not yet lost

Salgado depicted melting icebergs in the ocean, and humans and animals as individual creatures in nature—like the right whale—and as collective intelligence—like the migrating penguins.

The beauty of the creature and the power of its existence are evident in a whale's fin protruding from the water. Photographed while the animal floats vertically in the water. The remaining water flows down from the gleaming fluke like a waterfall.

The perfection of Salgado's photography ranges from the subject selection and depth of field to the fine grain in the gelatin silver print. An infinite number of gray and black tones seem possible.

The self-taught photographer with the Leica became world famous almost 50 years ago

The self-taught photographer Salgado, who only discovered photography at the age of 30 and more or less by chance, has achieved a photographic masterpiece over the past 50 years. Through his targeted and lengthy photo projects, this exceptional photographer has opened up unique perspectives for us.

He shows, in quiet and monumental grandeur, what is lost if humanity doesn't rethink its approach.

And he shows, through his own actions, that an individual can make a difference. We're thinking here of the rainforest project in which Salgado reforested a large area in Brazil, thus saving it from desertification. In doing so, he demonstrably changed the climate in the region. Incidentally, Salgado subsequently donated the reforested area to the Brazilian government as a nature reserve.

Poster for the "Genesis" exhibition - 2013 - at the Stephen Hoffman Gallery in Munich

"The Salt of the Earth." A Journey with Sebastião Salgado

The film "The Salt of the Earth." A Journey with Sebastião Salgado, which Wim Wenders shot together with the photographer's son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, and in which Sebastião Salgado frequently speaks, remains memorable thanks to its captivating images. Those who have seen this film will find much of it in the exhibition.

Documentary photography that will never be forgotten.

AMAZONIA - Original photograph by Sebastião Salgado in the window of the Stephen Hoffman Gallery, Photo: Helga Waess

Sebastião Salgado's last project was dedicated to the Amazon and the indigenous peoples of the rainforests: "AMAZONIA"

Original photographs from the AMAZONIA project were shown in an exhibition at the Stephen Hoffman Gallery in 2021. The book about the project was also presented at the same time.

From his travels (he returned several times over a six-year period) to the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, Salgado brought back unique aerial photographs of vast treetops, deep valleys, and winding riverbeds reflecting forested banks and even the rainforest's vapor.

In unique portraits, we see the women and men of these last indigenous peoples in their familiar and very private surroundings.

Sebastião Salgado 

will be remembered as 

the world's documentary and 

photographer of the century

Sebastião Salgados (* 1944-2025) - Originalphotographien 

can be seen regularly in Munich at the GALERIE STEPHEN HOFFMAN - Fine Art Photography (at Prannerstr. 5 - back of Hotel Bayerischer Hof, 80333 Munich). Homepage: galeriehoffman.com