Biography

A Quickly, he became a well-known photographer of people. His specialties were combining bodies with buildings, unique outdoor locations, and bizarre group shots with up to 45 nude models.

In July 1999, Henning created a group shoot with naked models in the centre of Berlin, to show the liberal attitude in the modern democracy of the newly reunited Republic of Germany. The six men were photographed in the nude on public streets and in front of a dozen tourist highlights of the capital. In addition, the team posed for a nude shoot in the glass dome of Germany's main parliament building, the historical "Reichstag."

That photo series became THE scandal that summer, both at home and abroad. Front pages of numerous international newspapers documented the whimsical idea. The artistic happening was also published in magazines and a retrospective book of male modelling. The German issue of PLAYGIRL featured this incident as its title story (10/99) and later presented Henning's photos in its special jubilee edition "10 Years of German PLAYGIRL."

There were no repercussions for this spectacular happening because Germany is a very liberal country. In fact, it created a lively discussion about nudity in the arts.

After showing his creativity in a number of exhibitions in northern Europe, von Berg felt he needed a change of scene. Since every European dreams of the wonderful California lifestyle, Henning decided to travel overseas to find new inspirations.

In August 1999 he arrived in Los Angeles with a 10-year visa. A short time later, he had his first American exhibition in the Tom Of Finland Foundation's international "EROTIC ART FAIR" in Hollywood. With German fame under his belt, he had success getting in contact with US publishers, curators and collectors who liked his "European Style."

Von Berg started to photograph American models at typical Californian landmarks and landscapes. He became a good friend with the famous best-selling author, award-winning director and painter Clive Barker and the photographer David E. Armstrong in Los Angeles. After half a year he headed back to Berlin. Quickly his "American Style" photography was being printed all over Europe.

To date, his material has been published on all five continents in many high-profile periodicals and 18 coffee table compilation books. You can find HvB-photographs on lithograph posters, greeting cards, wall calendars, billboards, in fashion catalogues and in commercial advertisements. Several European TV stations have produced documentary films about his unique body of work.

He has met numerous photography icons, i.e. Clifford Baker, Peter Berlin, Tom Bianchi, Michael Childers, Greg Day, Ed Freeman, Klaus Gerhard, Greg Gorman, David Hockney, Karl Lagerfeld, Reed Massengill, Will McBride, Helmut Newton, Francesco Scavullo, Arthur Tress.

Henning von Berg's artistic motto is : "Provocative photos for people who understand the fine difference between sexuality and sensuality!"®