Thunder rolled across the prairie – and then there was silence. It
was probably more than 30 million American bison roaming the
plains of the Midwest. Nothing was more powerful in the prairie,
neither physically nor spiritually. It meant everything to the
American Indians. The bison was their life. With the arrival of
the European settlers massive slaughter began. Never before
had human beings killed so many animals in such a short space
of time. Almost the whole population was annihilated within
less than two decades. The (hi)story of the bison is a parable
about globalization and the interplay of technological progress,
capitalism, and a lack of understanding ecological contexts,
ideologies, and politics. What followed was an ecological,
economic, and social disaster. The whole country suffered. The
prairie vanished with the bison – and with it all the hope.Now
the bison returns. It is a journey into the past in order to gain a
future. And this is not nostalgia. The bison is a real existing and
socio-cultural phenomenon. It is a current political issue in the
dispute between cattle breeders and the bison lobby. These
archaic creatures are at the center of a symbiotic relationship
between animal and environment - and a human society of the
21st century. The bison is the matrix.
Buffalo Ballad is a visual search for the spirit and myth of this
American icon in the heart of the bison country, it is an homage
to the American soul. The photographers travelled through the
center of the bison country, from North and South Dakota,
Wyoming, Colorado, to Montana. Their magical black-and-white
photographs of the bison translate the vision into reality. There
must be places out there where archaic creatures may live
freely. Only a world in which this is possible is a world worth
living in.
The husband-and-wife team Heidi & Hans-Jürgen Koch began their joint expedition into the world of professional photography over 30 years ago.
What concerns the studied social worker and the ethologist is what they call Lifeform Photography.
Their work is published worldwide in leading media. The couple has released several books. Their exhibitions are presented internationally.
For their unique perspective and the range of photographic work, the couple has been honored with numerous awards.
They are appointed members of the German Photographic Society (DGPh).
Awards Awards and honors received from:
2022 - ICMA International Creative Media Award
2022 - FEP European Photo Book Award
2020 - German Photobook Award 20|21
2018 - Horizonte Zingst Award
2015 - German Photobook Award
2015 - FEP European Photo Book of the Year Award
2015 - PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
2015 - Felix-Schöller-Award Shortlist
2014 - Alfred Fried Photography Award
2014 - One Eyeland Photography Award
2014 - German Award for Science Photography
2013 - Art Directors Club Germany
2013 - Lead Awards
2013 - Black & White Spider Awards
2011 - Dr.-Erich-Salomon-Award
2010 - German Award for Science Photography
2009 - Art Director’s Club Germany
2009 - World Press Photo Award
2007 - German Award for Science Photography
2005 - Fuji Euro Press Photo Award
2004 - Hansel-Mieth-Award
2001 - Freelens Layout Prize
2000 - World Press Photo Award
2000 - Lead Awards
1995 - BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 - Henri-Nannen-Award Shortlist
2009, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 - Schorlarships and Projekt support from Foundation Kulturwerk Bild-Kunst
