It was announced today that the well-known photographer Thomas Billhardt passed away on 23 January 2025. We are publishing the personal obituary of the Berlin gallery for photography CAMERA WORK here. A book of condolences is available in the gallery.
Image above: Thomas Billhardt, © courtesy of CAMERA WORK Gallery.
“With the death of Thomas Billhardt (02.05.1937 – 23.01.2025) we lose one of the most important reportage photographers in the history of German division; as a gallery team we also lose a friend whom we have represented as a photographer for 26 years and whose photographic life’s work is owned by CAMERA WORK AG. Thomas Billhardt’s personality and passion for his work have significantly characterised this close collaboration.
Thomas Billhardt began his training as a photographer at the age of 14 under the guidance of his mother and from then on devoted himself to the art of photography. This deep attachment to the craft, coupled with an inexhaustible curiosity, drove him on throughout his life. Thomas Billhardt was always in search of the moment, the truth and the story behind the pictures.
In his reportages and portraits, he not only showed the world, but also made it tangible and tangible. His work, which he shot in over 50 countries, gave people a voice – especially those who perished in the world’s crisis regions. He became internationally recognised for his iconic images of the Vietnam War, which became an unforgettable contemporary document for many. Thomas Billhardt was never just a photographer – he was a storyteller, a chronicler of humanity.
As a gallery, we value not only this special talent, but also Thomas Billhardt’s warm personality and the friendship we were able to share with him. It is our greatest endeavour to preserve his photographic life’s work and to ensure that the significance of his work is preserved for future generations. Thomas Billhardt leaves a gap that we cannot close, but which fills us with a deep sense of gratitude for the time we spent together.”
WHERE?
CAMERA WORK
Kantstraße 149
10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg
