1954
born in Geldern (Lower Rhine)
1975-1980
studies at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, first with Gerhard Richter, then in the photography class of Bernd and Hilla Becher
1976
1st presentation of 49 photographs of Dusseldorf streets at the Academy in Dusseldorf
1978
New York Scholarship of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with first solo exhibition "Streets of New York", P.S. 1, New York
1990
Werner Mantz Prijs, Maastricht
1993-1996
Professorship at the Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung, Karlsruhe
1997
Spektrum - International Prize for Photography, Stiftung Niedersachsen
2007
Marriage to Tara Bray Smith
2011
Selected as photographer for the official anniversary photo of the Royal Family
2013
Honorary Fellow in the Villa Aurora in Los Angeles, USA
2014
Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects
2016
Honorary Member in the American Academy of Arts and Letters
Centenary Medal and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society
2018
Honorary Magister Artium Gandensis of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK), Ghent, Belgium