The Essen-based photographer Manfred Vollmer (_1944) is one of the most important chroniclers
of the Ruhr area. After studying at the Folkwangschule in Essen he accompanied the so-called
structural change in the region. He also attracted with his coverage of events abroad. He was
thus already awarded the Folkwang Prize for his final thesis Kirchenfeste in Süd- und
Mittelitalien (Church Festivals in Southern and Central Italy). He was awarded the first prize
in the World Press Photo competition Den Haag in 1979 for a series on an oil spill in
Brittany.In addition to newspapers magazines and publishing houses Vollmer has worked for
unions in particular for decades. He has accompanied the labor disputes in the Ruhr area with
great empathy and documented people in their place of work.
