Born in Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany, Uwe Ommer became fascinated with photography at a young age. Initially sparked by his interest in photographing birds, he received his first camera at age 14 and began experimenting with his limited equipment. In 1962, Ommer was awarded the first Deutscher Jugend Photo Preis (German Youth Photo Prize) at Photokina 1962 for his photograph of children playing soccer. The following year, he left for Paris (for only one year to learn French, he insisted) and began working as an assistant to advertising photographer Jean Pierre Ronzel. While Ommer did perfect his French, he never did leave Paris. In 1966 he opened his own photography studio, primarily shooting fashion and advertising photos for small women’s magazines. Quickly gaining respect for his work in Paris, Ommer began showing in local galleries and eventually published his first book. In 1995, Ommer drastically changed gears and decided to embark on a project unlike anything he had ever done before – a project unlike anything anyone had ever done before. As a personal challenge, he set out the following year to document all types of families on every continent at the turn of the millennium. With a Landrover, Rolleiflex camera, portable studio, one assistant, many maps, many guidebooks (but without a phone, a gps system, any spare parts or a watch) Ommer visited 130 countries in the following four years, interviewing and photographing over 1000 families. The exhibition has toured the world and has received praise for the scope and beauty of the photographs, and their simple message of commonality. |
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