Rainer Hosch
George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Iggy Pop, Kim Kardashian, and Kamala Harris are some of the subjects Rainer Hosch captures through his lens. His breakthrough came in 1996 with a posthumously published shoot of Falco, which he describes as a turning point in his career. The Iggy Pop series, shot in just 45 minutes with a ring flash and 15 rolls of film, reflects Hosch’s raw, unfiltered style. His signature ring flash technique peels away carefully crafted personas,offering viewers intimate glimpses into the authentic presence of cultural icons.
My father, Heinz Hosch, is shown here in the 1950s during his time with the French Foreign Legion, taken by a fellow Legionnaire. After WWII, he wanted to become a photographer, and joining the Legion was the only way to do that. After his service, he became a photojournalist in Austria, traveling the world, risking his life on the front lines from Prague to Western Africa, driven to capture that one photograph that could tell everything.
When I was a kid, our kitchen was a makeshift darkroom, and I remember my dad showing me the magic of a silver print appearing in the developer tray. He gave me my first camera on my 8th birthday. He was my icon and first teacher. I lost him when I was only eleven years old. He wasn’t killed in those wars, but I believe the wars ultimately killed him. That moment changed everything for me. I decided to keep his cameras, become a photographer, and continue his legacy.
The original print remains one of the few precious artifacts from that pivotal moment in our family’s history. Without this powerful image and my father’s enduring influence, “52icons” would not exist.
No publicist, no stylist, no grooming. When I met the “Godfather of Punk” in Miami Beach in fall 2003, Iggy Pop arrived at my studio alone—very unusual for a celebrity of his caliber. He didn’t arrive with a change of clothes- just the ones of his back- a white button-down shirt (which he quickly removed in true Iggy fashion), black jeans and boots.
For one hour, I photographed Iggy with a ring flash. The direct light source, similar to a mugshot, revealed every detail. The ring flash captured not just his physical presence but his essence—that rebellious spirit that made him a cultural icon. The session was raw and intimate,
There are some sessions that can change the course of a career, this was one of them for me. After the portrait of the smiling Iggy appeared in Details Magazine, everyone wanted to be photographed in the same light and it became one of my signature styles.
Rainer Hosch remains, at his core, a portraitist who can see through the surface and capture moments of authenticity. For over three decades, the Austrian-born, Los Angeles-based photographer has developed a masterful approach to revealing the person behind the persona, often using his signature ring flash to illuminate moments of genuine vulnerability. He’s photographed influential figures across every field—from entertainment and art to politics and business—amassing an extensive archive of contemporary culture that captures the subtle tension between public image and private self.
Rainer Hosch has exhibited internationally for over two decades, with solo shows including “POP STAR” in Vienna, Gallery Poulsen in Copenhagen (2012, 2015, 2019) and Museum of the 20th Century in Vienna (2003). Recent group exhibitions include “Art of Punk” at Francisco Carolinum Linz (2024), Pulse Miami Beach, Frieze New York and shows at The Dean Collection in Los Angeles. His work appears in prestigious collections including the National Museum of Photography in Copenhagen and Roc Nation’s New York headquarters. Notable exhibitions span from PARIS PHOTO LOS ANGELES to Art Basel.