Photo: Alina Rudya
Living and working in Berlin, Germany
Available for assignments worldwide.
CONTACT
MOBILE +49 152 36274333
EMAIL nadja@nadjawohlleben.com
MEMBER of Women Photograph
SYNDICATION by laif photo agency
BIOGRAPHY
NADJA WOHLLEBEN is an independent photojournalist, documentary photographer, and cultural anthropologist based in Berlin, Germany. In her work, she focusses on stories of resilience in the feminine human landscape. Since 2017, Nadja has been working on her long-term project WARRIOR WOMEN, for which she collects stories of fighting females around the world, ultimately creating an atlas of warrior women worldwide.
Nadja is a member of Women Photograph and is represented by laif photo agency.
Her editorial clients and publications include GEO Magazin, The Wall Street Journal, Die Zeit, The New York Times, Stern, Thomson Reuters, Neue Zuercher Zeitung, Zeit Magazin Online, Der Spiegel, Financial Times, Open Society Foundations, among many others.
Nadja's work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and has received international recognition at The Photo Annual Awards (formerly PDN), the NPPA Best of Photojournalism Awards, International Photography Awards, Burn Emerging Photographer Grant, FotoVisura Photography Grant, The Photography Gala Awards, among others.
As an undergraduate, Nadja received a scholarship to study Journalism at New York University, then went on to complete her first master's degree in Cultural Anthropology at Humboldt University in Berlin. Upon realising that photography was the ideal tool to combine her interests, Nadja majored in Photojournalism at the University of Westminster in London, earning her second master's degree with distinction.
Besides creating visual narratives, Nadja loves martial arts: she trains Shaolin Kung Fu since two and a half decades, is a Taekwondo (2nd Dan) teacher and gives self-defense workshops for women.
Nadja has traveled to over 50 countries. Her nomadic lifestyle is facilitated by her fluency in German, English and French, as well as intermediate Spanish.
CURRICULUM VITAE
CLIENTS
EDITORIAL
6Mois, Bright Magazine, Burn Magazine, Chrismon, Chinese Photographer Magazine, Civilization Magazine, Days Japan, Der Freitag, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, doc!photo magazine, Financial Times, Fluter, Focus Magazin, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, GEO Magazin, GEO Kompakt, GEO Wissen, Guido, Huck, Neues Deutschland, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, New Internationalist, Open Society Foundations, Spiegel Online, Stadt Gottes, Stern, Stern.de, taz. die tageszeitung, The New York Times, The Observer, Thomson Reuters, Vice, Wired, Zeit Online, Zeit Magazin Online
6Mois, Bright Magazine, Burn Magazine, Chrismon, Chinese Photographer Magazine, Civilization Magazine, Days Japan, Der Freitag, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, doc!photo magazine, Financial Times, Fluter, Focus Magazin, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, GEO Magazin, GEO Kompakt, GEO Wissen, Guido, Huck, Neues Deutschland, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, New Internationalist, Open Society Foundations, Spiegel Online, Stadt Gottes, Stern, Stern.de, taz. die tageszeitung, The New York Times, The Observer, Thomson Reuters, Vice, Wired, Zeit Online, Zeit Magazin Online
CORPORATE (selected)
Adidas, AirBnb (Experiences), AUDI, Converse, Liebeskind,
She's Mercedes, NIKE, NIKE Women, Pernod & Ricard, Porsche, Zeiss
AWARDS & GRANTS
2024
New York Portfolio Review - Selected
2020
The Photo Annual Awards (formerly PDN): Winner in photojournalism category with series 'The Kung Fu Nuns of the Himalayas'
International Photography Awards: Honorable Mention in Editorial/ Press category with series 'The Kung Fu Nuns of the Himalayas'
VG Bild-Kunst Grant, recipient for project 'The Rise of the Lotus Flower'
2018
VG Bild-Kunst Grant, recipient for project 'The Kung Fu Nuns of the Himalayas'
NPPA Best of Photojournalism Awards: Honorable Mention in Portrait Singles
International Photography Awards: Honorable mention for series "a Sword & A Sari" in Sports professional category
International Photography Awards: Honorable Mention for single 'Spirituality' in People - professional category
The Photography Gala Awards: Finalist in 'Women seen by Women' Competition with series '92 - Helga's Disappearance'
2016
The Emerging Photographer Fund/ BURN Magazine: Shortlisted with series '92'
FotoVisura Photography Grant: Honorable Mention for series '92'
International Photography Awards: Honorable Mention for series '92'
Magnum First Impressions - Portfolio Revisions, Visa pour l'Image - Selected
Association Nationale des Iconographes: 'Coup de Coeur', Perpignan, France for series '92
International Photography Awards: Family of Man Competition, Honorable Mention in Category Old Age/Death
International Photography Awards: Family of Man Competition, Honorable Mention in Category Childhood
International Photography Awards: Family of Man Competition, Honorable Mention in Category Love
Moscow International Foto Awards: Honorable Mention for series '92'
EXHIBITIONS, SCREENINGS & Artist Talks (selected)
2020
The Photo Annual Awards (formerly PDN): Winner in photojournalism category with series 'The Kung Fu Nuns of the Himalayas'
International Photography Awards: Honorable Mention in Editorial/ Press category with series 'The Kung Fu Nuns of the Himalayas'
VG Bild-Kunst Grant, recipient for project 'The Rise of the Lotus Flower'
2018
VG Bild-Kunst Grant, recipient for project 'The Kung Fu Nuns of the Himalayas'
NPPA Best of Photojournalism Awards: Honorable Mention in Portrait Singles
International Photography Awards: Honorable mention for series "a Sword & A Sari" in Sports professional category
International Photography Awards: Honorable Mention for single 'Spirituality' in People - professional category
The Photography Gala Awards: Finalist in 'Women seen by Women' Competition with series '92 - Helga's Disappearance'
2016
The Emerging Photographer Fund/ BURN Magazine: Shortlisted with series '92'
FotoVisura Photography Grant: Honorable Mention for series '92'
International Photography Awards: Honorable Mention for series '92'
Magnum First Impressions - Portfolio Revisions, Visa pour l'Image - Selected
Association Nationale des Iconographes: 'Coup de Coeur', Perpignan, France for series '92
International Photography Awards: Family of Man Competition, Honorable Mention in Category Old Age/Death
International Photography Awards: Family of Man Competition, Honorable Mention in Category Childhood
International Photography Awards: Family of Man Competition, Honorable Mention in Category Love
Moscow International Foto Awards: Honorable Mention for series '92'
EXHIBITIONS, SCREENINGS & Artist Talks (selected)
2023
Studio Art Gallery, New Delhi, India: Part of group exhibition 'Truth or Dare' with project A SWORD & A SARI
2020
Female Photoclub: Part of group exhibition Corona Diaries with quarantine project a l o n e TOGETHER July-August
2018
Les Rencontres de la Photographie Arles, The Family of No Man: Part of group exhibition curated by Cosmos, Arles / FRANCE
5th Biennal of Fine Art & Documentary Photography, '92 - Helga's Disappearance' featured in group show, Barcelona/ SPAIN
2020
Female Photoclub: Part of group exhibition Corona Diaries with quarantine project a l o n e TOGETHER July-August
2018
Les Rencontres de la Photographie Arles, The Family of No Man: Part of group exhibition curated by Cosmos, Arles / FRANCE
5th Biennal of Fine Art & Documentary Photography, '92 - Helga's Disappearance' featured in group show, Barcelona/ SPAIN
2017
Leica Gallery Warsaw, Artist talk about project manager "Shosho Jikinge"
2016
Month of Photography LA, 'Connections' screening of series 'HeartCore', LA/USA
2013
Moving, Still - Exhibiton of series 'L'Amour Nous Unit' in group show, P3 gallery, London/UK
Leica Gallery Warsaw, Artist talk about project manager "Shosho Jikinge"
2016
Month of Photography LA, 'Connections' screening of series 'HeartCore', LA/USA
2013
Moving, Still - Exhibiton of series 'L'Amour Nous Unit' in group show, P3 gallery, London/UK
WORKSHOPS
2015
'Visual Storytelling' Masterclass with Ron Haviv/ VII Photo - Berlin/Germany
2014
'The Photographic Essay' Masterclass with David Alan Harvey/ Magnum Photos - Dubai/UAE
EDUCATION
2013
MA Photojournalism - Distinction, University of Westminster, London
2009
MA Cultural Anthropology - Humboldt University, Berlin
2006
Scholarship DAAD (German Academic Exchange Program) to study Journalism & Anthropology at New York University, NYC/USA
INTERVIEWS (selected)
VOGUE - InStyle - HUCK
NGO
UNHCR - No Means No Worldwide - Live To Love - Ujamaa Africa - Makhzoumi Foundation - Humedica
'Visual Storytelling' Masterclass with Ron Haviv/ VII Photo - Berlin/Germany
2014
'The Photographic Essay' Masterclass with David Alan Harvey/ Magnum Photos - Dubai/UAE
EDUCATION
2013
MA Photojournalism - Distinction, University of Westminster, London
2009
MA Cultural Anthropology - Humboldt University, Berlin
2006
Scholarship DAAD (German Academic Exchange Program) to study Journalism & Anthropology at New York University, NYC/USA
INTERVIEWS (selected)
VOGUE - InStyle - HUCK
NGO
UNHCR - No Means No Worldwide - Live To Love - Ujamaa Africa - Makhzoumi Foundation - Humedica