Fritz Pölking

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Fritz Pölking (2007)

Fritz Pölking (born January 30, 1936 in Krefeld ; † July 16, 2007 in Münster ) was a German nature photographer and publisher . He is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern animal photography in Europe.

biography

Fritz Pölking began nature photography as a teenager. After obtaining the title of master confectioner in 1961, he became a master photographer in 1968. From 1970 he was a publisher of nature books and magazines. The magazine he published animal and nature photography is a forerunner of today's magazine NaturFoto . Fritz Pölking was also one of the founding members of the Society of German Animal Photographers and worked all his life to do justice to species protection in animal photography . His pictures have appeared in numerous renowned journals and magazines, including National Geographic , Journal of Zoology , Australian Geographic , kosmos , terra and International Wildlife . In addition, Pölking was the author of over 30 books.

In his handbook for bird photography from 1987, he described responsible animal photography in practical tips and reported in detail on his own experiences. From pictures on the Münster Rieselfeldern from the photo hiding place to the necessary steps to close up kingfishers on a specially leased forest property to his knowledge of equipment and luggage during long-distance trips to the Galapagos Islands .

He became famous worldwide with a photo of a Galapagos buzzard landing on the shell of a turtle. With the picture he won the 1977 wildlife photographer of the year competition . He became famous in Germany when he published the first photos of a kingfisher emerging from the water. The logo of the State Association for Bird Protection in Bavaria is derived from this image .

He lived in Greven near Steinfurt with his wife Gisela, who is also a nature photographer . Fritz Pölking died on July 16, 2007 at the age of 71 as a result of a heart attack .

Awards (selection)

  • Wildlife Photographer of the Year 1977 in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition
  • Winner of the "Humorous Views" category of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1992
  • "Nature photographer of the year" at the annual photo competition of the Society of German Animal Photographers e. V. 1977, 1981, 1992
  • Fritz Steiniger Prize for services to nature photography 1993
  • Honorary member of the Society of German Animal Photographers V. 1993

Fonts (selection)

  • How do you photograph birds? , with drawings by Maria Bertsch, Das Vivarium, Stuttgart 1971 ( ISBN 3-440-03773-8 ; Dutch translation under the title Hoe fotografeert men vogels?, Zutphen 1972)
  • Galapagos National Park , with drawings by Günter Jüptner, National Park series (Volume 2), Greven 1977 (3rd, extended edition under the title Galapagos National Park. The natural paradise in the Pacific , Greven 1989, ISBN 3-88949-160-X )
  • together with Einhard Bezzel : Kleinod Eisvogel , special publication of the magazine Die Welt der Tiere (Volume 6, Special Issue 2), Greven 1979 ( ISBN 3-921427-28-2 )
  • Bird photography. A guide to creative practice , Greven 1987 ( ISBN 3-88949-112-X )
  • together with Norbert Rosing : Cheetahs . The fastest cats in the world , Steinfurt 1993 ( ISBN 3-924044-11-2 )
  • Nature photography. Animals, plants, landscapes. Paths to professional quality , Augsburg 1995 ( ISBN 3-8043-5038-0 ; later under the title Die Große Fotoschule Natur. Animals - Plants - Landscapes. Paths to professional quality , Munich 2003, ISBN 3-426-66733-9 )
  • Masai Mara. Africa's Garden of Eden , Steinfurt 1995 ( ISBN 3-924044-16-3 )
  • Leopards. The mysterious cats , Steinfurt 1995 ( ISBN 3-924044-17-1 )
  • together with Wally Hagen and Horst Hagen: The Leopard. Insights into the life of Africa's big spotted cat , Steinfurt 1995 ( ISBN 3-924044-21-X )
  • together with Uwe Walz: Störche. Life on the Cathedral , Steinfurt 1996 ( ISBN 3-924044-25-2 )
  • Close-up photography in nature. The ideal introduction to the wonderful world of nature photography , Augsburg 1997 ( ISBN 3-8043-5097-6 )
  • Wildlife photography. Encounters between humans and animals. Cameras and lenses, equipment, accessories and films, pets, animal enclosures, native and exotic wilderness areas, photo practice, design, documentation, snapshots, reports , Augsburg 1998 ( ISBN 3-8043-5116-6 )
  • Planète sauvage , Chamalières 2001 ( ISBN 2-84550-084-X )
  • Fritz Pölking: Moments of Nature. Photographic impressions and essays , Steinfurt 2002 ( ISBN 3-934427-18-9 )
  • Workshop book nature photography , Galenbeck 2003 ( ISBN 3-929192-17-9 )
  • On the pulse of life. About nature and photography = At ​​the pulse of life (German / English), Greven 2004 ( ISBN 3-88949-201-0 )
  • Masai Mara. Africa's Paradise (bird species of the Masai Mara), Steinfurt 2005 ( ISBN 3-934427-52-9 )
  • Nature photography yesterday and today. Pölkings second workshop book , Galenbeck / Mecklenburg 2005 ( ISBN 3-929192-21-7 )
  • Digital nature photography in practice , Greven 2006 ( ISBN 3-88949-202-9 )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Fritz & Gisela Pölking - biography. In: www.poelking.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
personal data
SURNAME Pölking, Fritz
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German nature photographer and publisher
DATE OF BIRTH January 30, 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH Krefeld
DATE OF DEATH July 16, 2007
Place of death Muenster