SAMUEL LINTARO HOPF
Photographer, Filmmaker and GR Ambassador.

I was born in Kamakura, Japan in 1988 but I have been living in Germany since 1989 (yes, when the Berlin wall fell. Sadly I was not a photographer back then yet). After studying communication design in 2012 I was offered an internship at a very prestigious advertising agency, but I followed my heart and decided that working in the advertisement industry is not for me. So I went freelance instead and pursued a career in photojournalism and filmmaking. My photography is focused on Reportage & Street. I like to showcase the human experience and highlight interesting people and places. Photography gives me a sense of home and a sense of belonging. It allows me to connect with humanity, find meaning and joy in the everyday. I am a very curious person and my camera helps me open doors that would otherwise be hard to open. When I'm not working you will find me drive my son around or go on solo walks in the quiet countryside. I'm based in north Germany (Lower Saxony & Hamburg) but I have a second base in Osaka, Japan. E-mail me if you want to collaborate or work together.

CONTACT ME:

INSTAGRAM: @lin.taro
YOUTUBE: Samuel Streetlife

BRANDS & CLIENTS I WORKED WITH

RICOH IMAGING, Leica Camera AG, Sony, Fujifilm, SIGMA, Blackmagic Design, Swisscom, Samsung, Unilever, UFA Lab Berlin, KIDS Agency, Epidemic Sound, Moment Inc, BenQ, Vienna Touristboard, Austrian National Tourist Office, MPB, News Digest, Xiaomi Inc. & More.

VITA / CV

2023 - Member of FREELENS e.V.
2019 - International Member of GRist Family
2017 - Starting Samuel Streetlife YouTube Channel
2017 - Founder of IKI FILM Videoproduction Company
2015 - Director of Photography at Bellomotion
2014 - Freelance Producer at UFA Agency
2013 - RICOH IMAGING Ambassador
2012 - Freelance Photojournalist at VISUM IMAGES
2012 - Degree in Communication Design

PARTNERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Ricoh Imaging - Ambassador for GR Camera System
Blackmagic Design - Livestream Equipment
Cobalt Image - Calibrated Color Profiles
JIMDO - Websites made in Hamburg
Epidemic Sound - Music Licensing
KIT - Equipment I use (affiliate links)

PUBLICATIONS

2024/3/28 - RICOH IMAGING Japan - GR HDF Product Launch
2024/3/27 - Kreiszeitung Elbe Geest - Photo Report
2023 - Bored Panda - "Butterfly Girl" Interview
2023 - PENTAX Europe - K-3 III Mono Experience Report
2023 - RICOH IMAGING Europe - Featured Photographer
2021 - DigitalPhoto Magazine - Sigma Lens Review
2021 - DPReview, "Sh**t Leica Photographers Say"
2021 - PetaPixel, "Sh**t Leica Photographers Say"
2020 - Sony Germany, Featured Project "Escape Into Nature"
2020 - Input Magazine, Commentary about Tatsuo Suzuki

2019 - GR Blog Japan, GRist Introduction
2019 - PxP Portfolio, Featured Photographer

2019 - EYESHOT Magazine, Featured Photographer
2019 - PHOTOGRAPHIE Magazine, Interview about Street Photography
2019 - Soul of Street Magazine Issue #21, Interview & Cover photo
2018 - WORLD STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK 5, Featured Work
2014 - Achterdeck Skateboardmagazine #25, Interview Pentax 645Z project

EXHIBITIONS

2023 - MEXICO STREET PHOTO FEST, Querétaro, México
2023 - 40th International Photo Exhibition, Esbjerg, Denmark
2023 - STREET LIFE 2017-2021, Meister Camera Hamburg, Germany
2023 - GR PHOTO FESTIVAL 2022, Gallery Le Déco Tokyo 
2019 - "LIFE.Japan" at Hallo eV. Hamburg, Germany
2018 - "World Street Photography 5" Exhibition, Gudberg Nerger Gallery
2014 - "Drive By" Solo Exhibition at Nitehi Works Yokohama, Japan
2014 - "JAPANxGERMANY" Collaboration with Mio Flute at Nitehi Works Yokohama, Japan
2008 - "Skate-O-Graphy" group exhibition at I-Punkt Skateland Hamburg

COMPETITIONS

 2023 - Aussie Street Festival - Single Photo Finalist
2021 - Paris International Street Photo Awards - 2nd Place in Category "Black & White"
2021 - Paris International Street Photo Awards - 1st Place in Category "Street Fashion"
2020 - Italian Street Photography Festival - Single Photo Finalist
2019 - WORLD STREET PHOTOGRAPHY - Curators First Choice "Black & White" Competition

PODCASTS

2024 - Streets Unplugged, Interview (english)
2024 - GATE7 Podcast, Interview (german)
2023 - Street Life Podcast, Interview (english)
2023 - GATE7 Podcast, Interview (german)
2023 - WTS Podcast, Interview (german)
2021 - About Photography Podcast, Interview (english)
2021 - OHNE DEN HYPE, Interview (german)
2020 - Explain that Photograph! EP1 (english
2020 - The Candid Frame, Photo Discussion (english)
2020 - Henry's Camera, Street Photography Q&A (english)
2018 - 160s Photography Podcast "Street, Social, Insta" (english)
2018 - TerraWalk #001, Street Photography (german)

MEDIA APPEARANCES