Photo: Annika Weertz
Stefan Nieland (*1999) is a documentary photographer currently based in Hanover, Germany. Before working as a photographer, he completed an apprenticeship as a foreign language correspondent for Spanish and English in Würzburg. Since 2021, he has been studying Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography in Hanover.
His work focuses on portrait and editorial photography, with an emphasis on long-term projects developed through personal encounters. His projects often explore themes of collective memory and identity and he loves to translate them into numerous book dummies. Since beginning his studies in 2021, he has been a member of the Fotobus Society and VG Bild-Kunst.
In 2024, his project “Kein Held” was exhibited at Rotterdam Photo, shortlisted for the Athens Photo Festival and the Felix Schoeller Award, and earned him a place among the 25 finalists of the Canon Student Development Program 2024. His work has been published in newspapers and magazines such as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, FAZ Magazin, stern, stern crime, Børsen, and The Guardian. From April 2025 to October 2025, he completed an internship as a photographer at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
His work focuses on portrait and editorial photography, with an emphasis on long-term projects developed through personal encounters. His projects often explore themes of collective memory and identity and he loves to translate them into numerous book dummies. Since beginning his studies in 2021, he has been a member of the Fotobus Society and VG Bild-Kunst.
In 2024, his project “Kein Held” was exhibited at Rotterdam Photo, shortlisted for the Athens Photo Festival and the Felix Schoeller Award, and earned him a place among the 25 finalists of the Canon Student Development Program 2024. His work has been published in newspapers and magazines such as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, FAZ Magazin, stern, stern crime, Børsen, and The Guardian. From April 2025 to October 2025, he completed an internship as a photographer at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Exhibitions & Awards:
2024
2025
2025
Rotterdam Photo 2024, “Kein Held”
Athens Photo Festival Shortlist, “Kein Held”
Der Greif Screening @Rencontres Arles, “Kein Held”
Fotobus Society Screening @Rencontres Arles
Among the 25 finalists, Canon Student Development Program
Fotobus Society Screening @Paris Photo
Guest Lecture with Robert Milazzo at Commonwealth University of Virginia showing my project “Debí tirar más fotos”
Mirar-se / Cuidar-se, Group Exhibition at Biblioteca de Barcelona
“Debi tirar más fotos”
Shortlisted for Felix Schoeller Award together with Simon Deppe with the collective project “The eyes of the world are upon you”
Athens Photo Festival Shortlist, “Kein Held”
Der Greif Screening @Rencontres Arles, “Kein Held”
Fotobus Society Screening @Rencontres Arles
Among the 25 finalists, Canon Student Development Program
Fotobus Society Screening @Paris Photo
Guest Lecture with Robert Milazzo at Commonwealth University of Virginia showing my project “Debí tirar más fotos”
Mirar-se / Cuidar-se, Group Exhibition at Biblioteca de Barcelona
“Debi tirar más fotos”
Shortlisted for Felix Schoeller Award together with Simon Deppe with the collective project “The eyes of the world are upon you”