Icon #1 - Heinz Hosch

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.

Icon #47 - Iggy Pop

The first time the ring flash was used for an entire shoot. Unusual for a celenbtiy of his caliber, there was no publicist, stylist or groomer on set. Just Iggy, my assistant and I. We shot 207 frames over the course of our hour together. The popularity of this image inspired an open edition and the creation of “207 faces of Iggy, the first time an entire shoot was published on the blockchain.

Icon #11 - George Clooney

I have been working with George Clooney for over a decade for Nespresso. During a lunch break on set, George excitedly showed me his new Leica. As I guided him through its functions, I realized I was witnessing something special—but my camera was elsewhere. I reached for my iPhone instead. Sometimes the most authentic portraits happen when you least expect them, proving that the best camera is the one you have with you.

Icon #21 - Meryl Streep

Photographing Meryl Streep during “The Post” cover shoot required Steven Spielberg’s persuasion—she’s famously particular about photo sessions. When she agreed to a single portrait, I knew I had limited time. Two minutes into shooting, she sprang up with conviction: “I know you got it!” Her sudden exit left me panicked, wondering what I’d missed. But Meryl’s instincts are legendary for a reason. She had felt the exact moment when everything aligned, and she was right—I had the shot.

Icon #40 - Falco

Falco was everything to my generation growing up in 1980s Vienna. Austria’s first artist to reach #1 in America with “Rock Me Amadeus,” he represented our wildest dreams of international success.
When I was hired to photograph him for an album cover in 1996, it felt like destiny. This was Austria’s greatest icon—capturing his portrait meant I had arrived as a photographer. The session ignited my ambition to conquer America next.
The album was never released. Falco died in a car accident shortly after turning 40, and I kept these portraits private for decades. They remained hidden until my recent “POP STAR” exhibition in Vienna, where I finally felt ready to share this defining moment.

Icon #13 - Whoopi Goldberg

Shot in her New York hometown, directly across from the housing projects where Whoopi Goldberg grew up, this portrait was part of the “New York Cares” campaign helping New Yorkers in need. The project was gratifying on multiple levels: contributing to a meaningful cause, and then seeing these images reach the entire city—including the subway line I took every day to my studio.

Icon #49 - Kamala Harris

In 2018, Penguin Random House sent me to the nation’s capital to photograph then-Senator Kamala Harris for the cover of her memoir, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey.” When the Secret Service showed up to the shoot, it was a hint that something big was in the works. My goal was to capture a portrait that felt authentic to Kamala’s strength and approachability. The power pearls and Converse sneakers she wore with her suit perfectly embodied this balance. The shoot and the book were a big success; to this date, it is the most licensed image of my career. This never-before-seen outtake is my personal favorite of Madam Vice President.

Icon #10 - Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian defines authenticity differently than any celebrity I’ve photographed. The pop culture icon and entrepreneur arrived with her glam squad, spent hours in hair and makeup, and wore a piece from her billion-dollar Skims line instead of a traditional power suit. Her authenticity isn’t about appearing “natural”—it’s about presenting the polished, intentional version of who she is.

Icon #25 - Allyson Felix

Sometimes the most successful people in the world are also the most down-to-earth. Allyson Felix exemplified this perfectly during our 2015 shoot. Despite being the most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history—with 11 Olympic medals and a record 20 World Championships medals—she was incredibly humble on set. Her gracious nature made it easy to forget I was photographing a legend who would continue dominating the sport for seven more years until her 2022 retirement.

Icon #51 - Stephen Sprouse

Arriving in New York in 1998, I quickly learned that nobody was waiting for me. Then designer Stephen Sprouse saw something in my portfolio that changed everything. He chose me, a complete unknown, as his exclusive photographer for his Andy Warhol Foundation collaboration. That single decision transformed my career and opened doors throughout the city. This portrait captures Stephen’s naturally shy personality, photographed in his apartment for The New York Times.