The Photographer

Erika Koch (1915-2010) lived in Berlin-Tempelhof from 1928-36. The film is based on some of her memories, letters and diaries. She was a pupil at the Karl-Marx-Schule in Neukoelln but as a Jew was forced to leave the school in 1933 soon after the Nazis came to power. She became a photographer's assistant, first to Umbo (Otto Umbehr) and then to ​Hein Gorny​. She fled from Berlin to London at the end of 1936 on her 21st. birthday. When war broke out, she was interned by the British as an enemy alien and spent a year in a camp on the Isle of Man. She eventually studied photography in London. Some of her travel photography appeared in the National Geographic Magazine in the 1950s. Later, she became a photographer of diplomats, photographing at embassy parties, Buckingham Palace etc.

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There is an essay about Erika Koch in this catalogue which accompanies the exhibition Umbo. Photographer.

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Exhibition:

Some of Erika Koch's work can be seen in the exhibition ANOTHER EYE from 28.02.20 - 03.10.20 at Four Corners, 121 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0QN.

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