Heinz Hajek-Halke

Heinz Hajek-Halke (1 December 1898 – 11 May 1983) was a German experimental photographer and educator. He was an early member of the Fotoform group.

Early life Hajek-Halke was born in Berlin, Germany, on 1 December 1898, the son of Paul Halke. He spent twelve years in Argentina while growing up and then moved back to Germany, studying graphics in Berlin in 1915. He was a soldier during World War I before returning to his artistic studies.

During World War II, Hajek-Halke was conscripted by the German army and worked as a photographer for Dornier, an aircraft company in Friedrichshafen. After the war he spent a brief time as a French prisoner of war. He then began selling snake venom from his own snake farm to the pharmaceutical industry.