Bio
"The Kochs are characterized by the second glance, to recognize what others do not see"
WOLFGANG BEHNKEN - legendary art director of stern magazine
LIFEFORMS and BEYOND
Before their career as photographers Heidi studied social work and Hans studied ethology, specializing in animal behavior. Their joint expedition into the world of professional photography started three decades ago. Numerous publications in the most prestigious magazines in the world like e.g., Stern, GEO, National Geographic Magazine, Independent Magazine, El Pais, Le Figaro Magazine, Paris Match, testify to their passion and expertise.
The Kochs call what they do Lifeform Photography. They clearly see themselves aside from the genres of traditional wildlife and nature photography. Their works are ranging in a journalistic, even subjective-documentary context, often with a sociological or scientific component. Their work is internationally presented in exhibitions and they published several books. The spectrum of their creative photographic work and their unique approach is also reflected in the diversity of their multiple awards and merits.
The couple was born in Giessen, Germany, a town between the cities of Kassel and Frankfurt. After their studies and degrees at the University of Bielefeld in the middle of Germany's backcountry, they moved right away to Cuxhaven at the North Sea coast to get some fresh air. They got what they wanted. Windy years later, the Capitol City was calling. During this Berlin experience it was high time to look for the opposite. So, they have chosen the warmest spot in Germany: Freiburg, close to France, Switzerland and Italy. Years of warmth, good food and beer garden followed. But then the inner voice was speaking: Go north! Go country! Heidi & Hans made their new home at the Baltic Sea.
AWARDS and HONORS
2022 - ICMA International Creative Media Award
2022 - FEP European Photo Book Award
2020 - German Photobook Award 20|21
2018 - Horizonte Zingst Award
2015 - German Photobook Award
2015 - FEP European Photo Book of the Year Award
2015 - PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
2015 - Felix-Schöller-Award Shortlist
2014 - Alfred Fried Photography Award
2014 - One Eyeland Photography Award
2014 - German Award for Science Photography
2013 - Art Directors Club Germany
2013 - Lead Award
2013 - Black & White Spider Awards
2011 - Dr.-Erich-Salomon-Award
2010 - German Award for Science Photography
2009 - Art Director’s Club Germany
2009 - World Press Photo Award
2007 - German Award for Science Photography
2005 - Fuji Euro Press Photo Award
2004 - Hansel-Mieth-Award
2001 - Freelens Layout Prize
2000 - World Press Photo Award
2000 - Lead Award
1995 - BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year
1992 - Art Director’s Club Europe
1990 - Art Director’s Club Germany
2004 - Appointed into the German Society of Photography (DGPh)
1998, 2000, 2001, 2003 - Selected works presented at Visa pour L’image, France
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 - Henri-Nannen-Award Shortlist
2009, 2014, 2019, 2020 - Schorlarships and Projekt support from Foundation Kulturwerk Bild-Kunst
EXHIBITIONS and SHOWS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 - Fiese Gewächse und solche mit krimineller Vergangenheit, Max Hünten Haus, Zingst, Germany
2022 - Fiese Gewächse und solche mit krimineller Vergangenheit, Museum Eckernförde, Germany
2021 - Danke, Maus!, Naturwissenschaftliches Museum Flensburg, Germany
2020 - Danke, Maus!, Wilhelm-Fabry-Museum, Hilden, Germany
2020 - Danke, Maus!, Museum im Schloss Bad Pyrmont, Germany
2020 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Museum Eckernförde, Germany
2019 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Biosphäre Potsdam, Germany
2018 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Kunstgewerbemuseum, Dresden, Germany
2018 - Das Lebenswerk, Kunsthallenhotel, Zingst, Germany
2018 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Neanderthal Museum, Mettmann, Germany
2018 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Darwineum, Rostock, Germany
2018 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Naturschutzzentrum Eriskirch, Germany
2017 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Darwineum, Rostock, Germany
2017 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Lignorama, Riedau, Austria
2017 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Deutsches Jagd- und Fischerei Museum, München, Germany
2017 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Naturkundemuseum im Marstall, Paderborn, Germany
2016 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Museum für Natur und Umwelt, Lübeck, Germany
2016 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, Northampton, England
2016 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Landesgartenschau, Öhringen, Germany
2016 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, GASTEIG, München, Germany
2016 - Buffalo Ballad, Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, Germany
2015 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Harburg Arcaden, Hamburg, Germany
2015 - Koch_Work, Deutsches Zeitungsmuseum Wadgassen, Germany
2015 - Buffalo Ballad, Festival Photo, Montier, France
2015 - Buffalo Ballad, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Austria
2015 - Buffalo Ballad, Foodphoto Festval, Vejle, Denmark
2015 - Buffalo Ballad, GAF Galerie für Fotografie, Hannover, Germany
2014 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, Germany
2014 - See You, Kunsthallenhotel, Zingst, Germany
2014 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Landwirtschaftsmuseum Weil am Rhein, Germany
2014 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Staatl. Museum für Naturkunden, Karlsruhe, Germany
2013 - Koch_Work, Fotoforum, Stadtmuseum Schleswig, Germany
2013 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Central Museum, Southend on Sea, England
2013 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Apimondia, Kiev, Ukraine
2013 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Naturkundemuseum Reutlingen, Germany
2013 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Rapunzel, Legau, Germany
2012 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Kulturzentrum Sinsteden, Germany
2012 - Comme nous, Festival Photo La Gacilly, France
2012 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, TU Berlin, Germany
2012 - 4 Projects – 50 Images, Fotomessen, Copenhagen, Denmark
2012 - 4 Projects – 50 Images, Fotomessen, Oslo, Norway
2011 - 4 Projects – 50 Images, Fotomässan, Stockholm, Sweden
2011 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Bonn, Germany
2011 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Jagdschloss Springe, Germany
2011 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Natur-Museum Luzern, Switzerland
2010 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Musee d`Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg
2010 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, Germany
2010 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Museum Wald und Umwelt, Ebersberg, Germany
2009 - Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Kuusamo Hall, Kuusamo, Finland
2009 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Museum Mensch & Natur, München, Germany
2009 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Glasmuseum, Rheinbach, Germany
2009 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Glasmuseum, Lauscha, Germany
2008 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Technische Sammlungen, Dresden, Germany
2008 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Naturkundemuseum, Reutlingen, Germany
2008 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Übersee-Museum, Bremen, Germany
2007 - Blaschka – Gäserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Leonardo Glass Cube, Bad Driburg, Germany
2005 - Primate Couture, 3. Triennale of Photography, FREELENS Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
2005 - Primate Couture, Zoo-Scheune, Zoo Krefeld, Germany
2005 - Primate Couture, Deutsches Textilmuseum Krefeld, Germany
1998 - Fischmarkt, Fishery halls Cuxhaven, Germany
1996 - Der Hahn, die Henne, das Ei, Theatre Itzehoe, Germany
1996 - Der Hahn, die Henne, das Ei, Townhall Neustadt, Germany
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 - Faszination Schmetterling, Naturwissenschaftliches Museum Flensburg, Germany
2020 - Images from Science, Northern Illinois University, USA
2020 - Weltbilder, Terra Mater, Hangar 7, Salzburg, Austria
2019 - Images from Science, RIT City Art Space, Rochester, USA
2019 - Images from Science, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
2018 - One World, Photofestival Horizonte Zingst, Germany
2018 - Leben 24/7 – 100 Jahre NIKON, Zürich, Switzerland
2018 - Grandiose Naturdokumente, Photo Festival Horizonte Zingst, Germany
2017 - Best of Highlights, Photo Festival Horizonte Zingst, Germany
2017 - Leben 24/7 – 100 Jahre NIKON, NRW Forum, Düsseldorf
2016 - Wunder der Natur, Gasometer Oberhausen, Germany
2015 - Grandiose Naturdokumente, Photo Festival Horizonte Zingst, Germany
2015 - Weltbilder - Terra Mater, Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt, Germany
2015 - Wissenschaftsfotografie, Haus der Wissenschaft, Bremen, Germany
2014 - Wild & Precious, Natural History Museum, London, UK
2014 - Grandiose Naturdokumente, Photo Festival Horizonte Zingst, Germany
2014 - Weltbilder - Terra Mater, Hangar 7, Salzburg, Austria
2013 - Visual Leader 2013, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg, Germany
2013 - Wild & Precious, CITES congress, Bangkok, Thailand
2011 - Bodenschätze, Centre Pro Natura de Champ-Pittet, Switzerland
2011 - Glasklar, Gewerbemuseum Winterthur, Switzerland
2010 - Wissenschaftsfotografie, Haus der Wissenschaft, Bremen, Germany
2010 - Senses, Naturalis, Leiden, Netherlands
2010 - Senses, Experimentarium, Hellerup, Denmark; Belgium;
2009 - World Press Photo Exhibition, Amsterdam and international venues
2009 - Images from Science, Haus der Wissenschaft, Braunschweig, Germany, followed by different locations in Europe
2009 - Mare - My Favorites, Galleria 10b Photography, Roma, Italy
2008 - Images from Science, SPAS Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, N.Y., USA, traveled to more than 35 venues wordwide
2007 - Evolution, Città della Scienza, Neapel, Italy
2007 - Green Art Festival, Seoul, Korea
2007 - Alive, Paris, Le Tourp, France; Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Switzerland
2007 - Wissenschaftsfotografie, Haus der Wissenschaft, Bremen, Germany
2006 - Evolution – Deutsches Hygiene Museum Dresden, Germany
2000 - World Press Photo Exhibition, Amsterdam and international venues
THE COMPANION CREATURE
When it comes to bizarre mammals on this planet, the nine-banded armadillo is a very serious candidate. Two month on assignment ended up with this strange critter as our companion creature. How that?
The story of the Texan armadillo is too fabulous not to be told. Originally inhabiting parts of South- and Central America Dasypus novemcinctus was coming from Mexico, crossed the Rio Grande, and reached Texas like an illegal immigrant. This was in 1854 when the first armadillos were discovered. Then they started moving northeast and arrived Dallas in 1956. Their career was steep and the popularity of the armadillo had reached almost cultic proportions. Impressive, although the most Texans never had and still have seen an armadillo alive. Indeed, Texas is covered with armadillos, but actually it is under-covered. These nocturnal creatures live protected in subterranean burrows. When they come out, they sometimes walk around like a running gag. Question: Why do chickens crossing the road? Answer: To demonstrate the armadillos that it is possible! No wonder that the common appearance of an armadillo is seen on the asphalt not in a good shape – as a roadkill. Anyway, in 1995 Texas named the armadillo the Official State Mammal. They made it!
We are grateful to this little armoured Don Quichote for passing on its principle in life: Even if you are not too bright, you can follow your own path.
Have a Dillo Day!