He studied journalism, communication science, German and art history. He received his Ph.D in 1983. In 1985 he became professor of photography and (since 1993) electronic media in the design department of the Fachhochschule Niederrhein in Krefeld. He has published numerous books on the history and theory of design and currently he teaches at the HBK Saar in Saarbrücken.

Lecture in German: The grapes behind the curtain, from the image of the world to the original in photography. New technological possibilities and printing methods have changed the meaning and the value of the « original » in photography. The photo historian challenges such criteria as « vintage print », « artist print », or « limited edition »- constructions which are supposed to counteract the potential for reproduction, and to serve as limitations of the
« original ».