Mads Nissen (b. 1979) is a photographer based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
For Nissen, photography is all about empathy - creating understanding and intimacy while confronting contemporary social issues such as inequality, human rights violations, and our destructive relationship with nature.
Nissen graduated with distinction from The Danish School of Media and Journalism in 2007. After graduating he moved to Shanghai to document the human and social consequences of China’s historic economic rise. Since 2014, he has worked as a staff photographer at the Danish daily Politiken, a newspaper internationally praised for its strong commitment to visual journalism. In addition to Politiken, his images have been published in Time, Newsweek, CNN, National Geographic, The Guardian, Le Figaro Magazine, Der Spiegel and many other publications.
He frequently gives lectures and workshops and has solo-exhibitions across Europe and Latin America.
In both 2015 and 2021, Nissen’s photographs were selected as World Press Photo of the Year. In 2015, his photograph was of an intimate moment between a young gay couple from Russia, and in 2021, ‘The First Embrace,’ depicted an embrace between two women in a care home in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work has received more than 80 international awards and recognitions, including the Visa d’Or in 2022 and first prize as ‘The International Photographer of the Year’ at POY in 2023.
Nissen has published three photo books: The Fallen (People's Press), AMAZONAS (Gyldendal) and most recently in 2018 the award-winning We are Indestructible (GOST Books).
He is represented by Panos Pictures, by Prospekt in Italy and Laif in Germany.
World Press Photo Involvement:
2023 World Press Photo Contest winner
2022 World Press Photo Contest jury member
2021 World Press Photo Contest winner
2015 World Press Photo Contest winner
2011 World Press Photo Contest winner
2009 Joop Swart Masterclass participant
6x6 Global Talent Program nominator
Mads Nissen on Social Media:
Instagram: @madsnissenphoto
Twitter: @MadsNissenPhoto
