Born in Ulm, Germany, Nanna Heitmann bases herself in Moscow where she covers current events, such as the invasion of Ukraine, while pursuing longterm projects that often focus the way people respond to and interact with their environment.

Heitmann has documented the effects of climate change, such as catastrophic forest fires and melting permafrost in Siberia (As Frozen Lands Burn), as well as the peatlands of the Congo Basin, which serve as the world’s largest carbon reservoir (Beneath The Trees). She has been published by National Geographic, Time, and M Le Magazine du Monde, among others, and contributes to The New York Times and the New Yorker. Her visual journalism has been recognized with numerous prizes, including the Olivier Rebbot Award for her work on Russia’s Covid experience, and a World Press Photo Award for her story on forest fires.

Heitmann became a Magnum nominee in 2019, joining on the strength of two bodies of personal work that both deal with issues of isolation — physical, social and spiritual.
Weg vom Fenster (‘Gone From the Window’), focused upon the inhabitants of Germany’s last operating coal mine. And for Hiding From Baba Yaga – a project whose title is inspired by the witch of Slavic folklore – Heitmann followed the world’s longest river from the Republic of Tuva northward through Siberia, photographing the lives of people living on the remote banks of the Yenisei River. Her gaze conveys the dignity and humanity of these people and allows the viewer to look at them with curiosity and empathy.

Heitmann became a full member of Magnum in 2023.

2023  Françoise Demulder Award
2022  Leica Oscar Barnack Award (shortlisted)
2022  World Press Photo, Europe, Stories
2021  Olivier Rebbot Award
2020  The 30: New and Emerging Photographers to Watch 2020
2020  Honorable Mention | PHmuseum 2020 Women Photographers Grant
2020  W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography (shortlisted)
2020  Joop Swart Masterclass Participant
2019  Ian Parry – Award for Achievement
2019  Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award
2019  PHmuseum Photography Grant- new generation prize, honorable mention
2019  Gomma Grant (shortlisted)
2018  Vogue Italia Prize at the PH Museum women photographers grant
2018  Lensculture- Emerging Talents, shortlisted
2018  Vonovia Award für Fotografie (newcomer prize)
2018  PhMuseum Women Photographers Grant – Verzasca FOTO Prize (shortlisted)
2018  World Report Award 2018, Documenting Humanity (Student award winner)
2018  Magenta Foundation- Top 100
2018  Kolga Award, Georgia (shortlisted)
2018  Forum Geschichtskultur an Ruhr und Escher e.V.
2018  Rovinj Photodays final selection
2018  Riga Photomonth Selection, Latvia
2018  Belgrade New Talent Award
2017  BFF- Förderpreis
2016  Dating ohne Date | Juliane Bartel Medienpreis – Online Video
2015  German Youth Photo Prize, Germany

2022  Berlin Photo Week
2021  The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo, Norway
2020  Zingst, Leica Gallery
2019  Landau, Strieffler Haus

2023  Documenting Israel: Visions of 75 Years, Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, Israel
2022  Close enough: New Perspectives from 12 Women Photographers of Magnum, ICP, New York
2021  Essere Umane – Le grandi fotografe raccontano il mondo, Museo San Domenico di Forlì, Italy
2021  Paris Photo
2020  Photo London online
2020  Capitis Studios, Berlin
2020  Manege Central Exhibition Hall, St. Petersburg, As They See Us. A Portrait of Russia by the Magnum Agency
2020  Outdoor exhibition on the Pandemic, Moscow, Vdnkh
2019  Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Neue Schule für Fotografie Berlin
2019  Perpignan off
2019  Cortona on the Move, Italy
2019  Red hook Labs, Brooklyn
2019  Voies off Award, Arles (screening)
2019  Kunstmuseum Bochum
2019  Kommunale Gallerie, Berlin
2018  Klompching Gallery – LensCulture 2018 Emerging Talent Award, NYC
2018  Festival della Fotografia Etica, Lodi, Italy
2018  Triennale der Photographie, Hamburg
2018  Photokina- BFF Förderpreis, Cologne, Germany
2018  Pixel Projekt Ruhr, Wissenschaftspark Gelsenkirchen
2018  Kolga Tblisi Award, Tblisi, Georgia
2018  Riga Photo Month, Riga, Latvia  (screening)
2018  Rovinj Photodays  (screening)
2018  Belgrade Photomonth
2017  German Youth Photo Award, Forum Gestaltung, Magdeburg, Germany
2016  Die Provinz aus neuer Sicht(group) | Pix. House – Ort für Fotografie in Poznan, Polen
2015  Linden Leben | Kulturhalle Faust in Hannover
2015  German Youth Photo Award, photokina, Cologne, Germany
2015  German Youth Photo Award, Haus der Geschichte, Berlin, Germany