Gerd Ludwig

Gerd Ludwig studied photography at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany and started working for publications such as Geo, Stern, Spiegel, Fortune, Time, and LIFE. Upon moving to New York in the 1980s, he began photographing for National Geographic Magazine.

His focus on the socioeconomic changes following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the aftermath of the Chernobyl catastrophe garnered his distinction as the world’s foremost photographer documenting the region.

Ludwig is the recipient of the Lucie Award for International Photographer of the Year in 2006, the 2014 German Society for Photography (DGPh)’s Dr. Erich-Salomon Award, and in 2015 he received the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism.

His books include “Ao Tao Roa” (1979, with Friedensreich Hundertwasser), “Broken Empire” (2001), “The Long Shadow of Chernobyl” (2014), “Sleeping Cars” (2016), “Minus 2/3” (2016), and “Beuys Land” (2024).

Gerd Ludwig lives and works in Los Angeles.