Dirk Reinartz (1947–2004) studied photography with Otto Steinert at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. Reinartz later taught photography at Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel, and from 1971 to 1977 was a photojournalist for Stern. Steidl has published his Kein schöner Land, Bismarck – Vom Verrat der Denkmäler, Besonderes Kennzeichen: Deutsch, Künstler, totenstill, Deutschland durch die Bank, Bismarck in America, Innere Angelegenheiten and New York 1974, as well several of his books with Richard Serra.