Chris von Wangenheim
Encyclopedia
Christoph von Wangenheim (21 February 1942 – 9 March 1981) was a top professional fashion photographer of the late 1960s through early 1980s.
near Breslau, Germany
(now Brzeg
resp. Wrocław, Poland
), being the son of Konrad Freiherr von Wangenheim
, an German aristocratic who became a well-known horse rider at the Olympic Games 1936 in Berlin as Gold Medalist in Team Eventing
.
Christoph grew up in Bavaria
after World War II, while his father never returned from Soviet POW camps, where he was obvoiusly hanged in 1953. From 1962, Christoph attended the Bavarian State College of Photography at Munich
, where he graduated as Journeyman
in 1964.
After that, he moved to New York
in 1965 where he worked as a photographer's assistant of David Thorpe
und James Moore
until 1967 . He started his own studio at Washington Square
and began working for the American edition of Harper's Bazaar
in 1968 and for the Italian edition of Harper's Bazaar
in 1970. American Vogue
became his primary outlet in 1972, but he also worked for its German, French and Italian editions, as well as for Esquire
, Playboy
, Interview
, and Viva
magazines. Chris von Wangenheim is also well-known for his successful advertisements for Christian Dior
, Calvin Klein
, and Revlon
.
Supermodel Gia Carangi
did her first major fashion shoot with him in October 1978. He also took the notorious photographs of Gia hanging and standing naked against a chain-link fence. Gia did several fashion photographs and layouts with von Wangenheim until his death.
While at the peak of his success, von Wangenheim died in a car crash in March 1981 at Saint Martin
Island.
Biography
Christoph was born in BriegBrieg
Brieg may refer to:* Brzeg , in Silesia, Poland** Duchy of Brzeg, a duchy of Silesia from 1311 – 1675* Briec , a town in Brittany...
near Breslau, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(now Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
resp. Wrocław, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
), being the son of Konrad Freiherr von Wangenheim
Konrad Freiherr von Wangenheim
Konrad Freiherr von Wangenheim was a German horse rider who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics....
, an German aristocratic who became a well-known horse rider at the Olympic Games 1936 in Berlin as Gold Medalist in Team Eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
.
Christoph grew up in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
after World War II, while his father never returned from Soviet POW camps, where he was obvoiusly hanged in 1953. From 1962, Christoph attended the Bavarian State College of Photography at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, where he graduated as Journeyman
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
in 1964.
After that, he moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1965 where he worked as a photographer's assistant of David Thorpe
David Thorpe
David Thorpe may refer to:* David Thorpe , English artist* David Thorpe, American music writer, satirist, and columnist for Something Awful and the Boston Phoenix* David Thorpe , Australian rules footballer...
und James Moore
James Moore
James Moore and Jim Moore are the names of:*Butch Moore , born James Augustine Moore, Irish showband icon during the 1960s*Cowboy Jimmy Moore James Moore and Jim Moore are the names of:*Butch Moore (1938–2001), born James Augustine Moore, Irish showband icon during the 1960s*Cowboy Jimmy Moore...
until 1967 . He started his own studio at Washington Square
Washington Square
Washington Square may refer to:Places* Washington Square , Massachusetts* Washington Square , Brookline, Massachusetts* Washington Square Park , Illinois* Washington Square , South Carolina...
and began working for the American edition of Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
in 1968 and for the Italian edition of Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
in 1970. American Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
became his primary outlet in 1972, but he also worked for its German, French and Italian editions, as well as for Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, Interview
Interview (magazine)
Interview is an American magazine which has the nickname The Crystal Ball Of Pop. It was founded in late 1969 by artist Andy Warhol. The magazine features intimate conversations between some of the world's biggest celebrities, artists, musicians, and creative thinkers...
, and Viva
Viva (magazine)
Viva was an adult woman's magazine that premiered in 1973 and ceased publication in 1980. Its full title was Viva, The International Magazine For Women, and it was published by Bob Guccione and his wife, Kathy Keeton. Guccione was the editor of Penthouse, an adult men's magazine, and he wanted to...
magazines. Chris von Wangenheim is also well-known for his successful advertisements for Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, and Revlon
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
.
Supermodel Gia Carangi
Gia Carangi
Gia Marie Carangi was an American fashion model during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Carangi is considered by some to be the first supermodel, although that title has been given to others, including Janice Dickinson, Dorian Leigh, and Jean Shrimpton...
did her first major fashion shoot with him in October 1978. He also took the notorious photographs of Gia hanging and standing naked against a chain-link fence. Gia did several fashion photographs and layouts with von Wangenheim until his death.
While at the peak of his success, von Wangenheim died in a car crash in March 1981 at Saint Martin
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
Island.