Photographer Mads Nissen (1979)
Based in Copenhagen, Denmark
Staff at Politiken / Member of Panos Pictures
Represented by Prospekt in Italy and LAIF in Germany
Education:
2009: Participant at the 16th World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass
2008: Participant at the first Nordic Masterclass for young talents
2007: Graduated with distinction from The Danish School of Media and Journalism, Photojournalism
2006: Participated in the World Press Photo/ ASEF seminar for young photographers
Awards (selection):
2021: Picture of the Year: Daily Life, Third Prize
2020: Picture of the Year: Daily Life, First Prize
2019: Picture of the Year: Photography book of the Year, Finalist
2019: PDN: Best Photobook, Winner
2018: Picture of the Year: Photographer of the Year, Award of Excellence
2018: Best of Photojournalism: Photographer of the Year, Award of Excellence
2018: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Photographer of the Year
2018: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Foreign Picture Story, First Prize
2018: Picture of the Year, Best Portrait, Second Prize
2017: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Foreign Picture Story, First Prize
2015: World Press Photo, Picture of the Year
2015: World Press Photo, Contemporary Issues, Single, First Prize
2015: Best Of Photojournalism, Photojournalist of the Year (large markets), Third Prize
2015: Best Of Photojournalism, International News Picture Story, First Prize
2015: Best Of Photojournalism, Portrait and Personality, First Prize
2015: Picture of the Year: Feature Story, Third Prize
2014: Picture of the Year: Issue Reporting Picture Story, Third Prize
2014: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Foreign News Picture story, First Prize
2012: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Photographer of the Year
2012: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Photo of the Year
2012: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Foreign Picture story, First Prize
2012: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Foreign News Picture story, First Prize
2012: Picture of the Year: News Picture Story, Second Prize
2011: World Press Photo, Daily Life Picture Story, Third Prize
2011: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Multimedia, First Prize
2011: Best Of Photojournalism, Best Published Picture Story, Second Prize
2010: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Photographer of the Year
2010: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Foreign Picture Story, First Prize
2010: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Foreign News Picture story, First Prize
2010: Danish Press Photo of the Year, News Picture of the Year, First Prize
2010: Picture of the Year: Photographer of the Year, Second Prize
2010: Picture of the Year: Issue Reporting Picture Story, Third Prize
2007: Danish Press Photo of the Year, Best Photo of the Year
2007: Winner of the Scanpix-award and grant; Best bachelor project – Danish School of Journalism
Solo exhibitions (selection):
2019: IMP-Festival, Padova, Italy
2017: The National Museum, Bogota, Colombia
2017: The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo, Norway
2017: GAF, Hannover, Germany
2015: Arbejdermuseet, Copenhagen, Denmark
2014: Freelens Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
2013+2017: Festival dela Fotografia Etica, Lodi, Italy
2012+13+14+17 Visa pour l’image, Perpignan, France
2010+11+12+13+14: Personal Projects, Øksnehallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
2008+10+12+14: Lumix Photo Festival, Hannover, Germany
Experience:
2019: Teaching – Masterclass in storytelling at Malakta, Finland
2017: Guest teacher at University of applied Sciences and Art, Hannover, Germany
2014- : Photographer at POLITIKEN
2013+17: Teaching – Masterclass in storytelling in Saint Petersburg, Russia
2011: Teaching – Masterclass in storytelling in Kathmandu, Nepal
2010- : Guest teacher at Danish School of Journalism and at Fatamorgana –school of art photography
2009-2014 : Photographer at Berlingske
2007-09: Based in Shanghai, China covering the social, economical and political development.
2000-01: Worked on personal photographic projects in South America and Ghana
1998-99: Studied spanish and did voluntary work in Venezuela
1979: Born in Hobro, Denmark
Books:
We are Indestructible (GOST Books, 2018, ISBN: 978-1-910401-23-1)
AMAZONAS (Forlaget Gyldendal, 2013, ISBN: 978-87-00-79096-4)
The Fallen (Berlingske Media Forlag/ People’s Press, 2010, ISBN: 9788799410101)
Grants:
Ernst B. Sunds Fond, Grosserer L.F. Foghts Fond, Konsul George Jorck og Hustru Emma Jorck’s Fond, Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Grant for Photography, Ophavsretsfonden, Palle Fogtdal Fonden, Politiken-Fonden, Timbuktu-legatet
Clients (selection):
Time Magazine, Newsweek, Der Spiegel, Stern, Geo, Sunday Times Magazine, Guardian, CNN, D-magazine (Italy), l’Espresso magazine, Foto8, 6-Mois, Politiken, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Human Rights Watch and The Nobel Peace Center.
Selection of interviews with Mads Nissen:
Documentary on the WPP-opening in Saint Petersburg w. Mads Nissen and Jon & Alex
World Press Photo, official acceptance speech at the WPP Award days
World Press Photo, interview on 2015-WPP winning image
Lecture at WestLicht Photography Gallery, Vienna, Austria
LensCulture on the 2015-winning image
DR2 Clement Direkte (Danish live show – no subtitles)
Panos Social on the making of AMAZONAS
DR P1. Radio interview on AMAZONAS (Danish only)
Interview on the Guardian on war photography