Manfred Paul was born in 1942 in Schraplau (former German Democratic Republic). After graduating from high school he worked as a photolab technician before studying photography and camerawork in Leipzig and Potsdam-Babelsberg. From 1983 to 1985 he made his first works using an 18 x 24 cm plate camera. The nature morte series was produced. He lectured in photography from 1974 to 1994 at the FWG Berlin and was subsequently appointed Professor of Photography and Audiovisual Media at the FHTW Berlin (1995–2007). He lives in Berlin.