{"id":78538,"date":"2026-10-05T10:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T08:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/?p=78538"},"modified":"2026-10-16T09:08:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T07:08:38","slug":"mats-hoff-wins-the-vgh-photo-prize-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/awards\/mats-hoff-wins-the-vgh-photo-prize-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Mats Hoff wins the VGH Photo Prize 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n\n    <div id=\"lead-in-block_430b1073e7ec129bde9c8a89dcabb31e\" class=\"block-lead-in typo--default font-size--xl has-spacing--m width--default\">\n        <p><strong>Mats Hoff wins the VGH Photo Prize 2026. <\/strong>The HsH student receives the award for his essay \u2018Grey Grounds\u2019 about Munster, a small town shaped by the German armed forces.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-meta\">\r\n    <span class=\"posted-on\"><a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/awards\/mats-hoff-wins-the-vgh-photo-prize-2026\/\" rel=\"bookmark\"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-10-05T10:00:03+02:00\">05.10.2026<\/time><\/a><\/span> <span class=\"byline\">Text: <span class=\"author vcard\"><a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/prof-dr-karen-fromm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Karen Fromm<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-block--slider splide has-spacing--s\" data-splide='{\"arrows\":true, \"autoplay\":true}'>\n    <div class=\"splide__track\">\n        <div class=\"splide__list\">\n\n                \n\n                    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--wide-left with-title splide__slide\">\n\n                        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n                                class=\"slide__image\"\n                                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-1050x840.jpg\" \n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-2048x1638.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-1920x1536.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-101-Grey-Grounds-02-150x120.jpg 150w\" \n                                width=\"1050\"  \n                                height=\"840\" \n                                alt=\"\"  \n                            \/>\n\n                                                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Mats Hoff\/Grey Grounds<\/span>\n                            \n                        <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                                                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>Scorched earth at<\/strong> the Munster-S\u00fcd military training area.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                        \n                    <\/figure>\n                \n                        \n\n                    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--wide-left with-title splide__slide\">\n\n                        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n                                class=\"slide__image\"\n                                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-1050x841.jpg\" \n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-1050x841.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-1024x820.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-768x615.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-1536x1230.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-2048x1640.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-1920x1538.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-1400x1121.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-670x537.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-701-Grey-Grounds-08-1-150x120.jpg 150w\" \n                                width=\"1050\"  \n                                height=\"841\" \n                                alt=\"\"  \n                            \/>\n\n                                                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Mats Hoff\/Grey Grounds<\/span>\n                            \n                        <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                                                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>The state-owned company<\/strong> GEKA is the only munitions disposal company in Germany.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                        \n                    <\/figure>\n                \n                        \n\n                    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--wide-left with-title splide__slide\">\n\n                        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n                                class=\"slide__image\"\n                                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-1050x840.jpg\" \n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-2048x1638.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-1920x1536.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Mats-Hoff-1-Grey-Grounds-01Mats-Hoff-1801-Grey-Grounds-19-150x120.jpg 150w\" \n                                width=\"1050\"  \n                                height=\"840\" \n                                alt=\"\"  \n                            \/>\n\n                                                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Mats Hoff\/Grey Grounds<\/span>\n                            \n                        <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                                                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>In a barracks office,<\/strong> a soldier demonstrates how a G36 assault rifle is assembled.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                        \n                    <\/figure>\n                \n                       \n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    \n        <div class=\"slider__navigation\">\n            <div class=\"slide__count\"><\/div>\n        <\/div><!-- .slider__navigation -->\n\n        <div class=\"splide__arrows gallery-slider__arrows\">\n\n            <button class=\"splide__arrow splide__arrow--prev gallery-slider__arrow\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"7\" height=\"11\" viewBox=\"0 0 7 11\" fill=\"none\">\n                <rect width=\"7.3498\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(-0.716725 -0.697356 -0.716725 0.697356 6.60693 10.1616)\"\/>\n                <rect width=\"7.70647\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(-0.716725 0.697356 0.716725 0.697356 6.02393 0.513184)\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n\n            <button class=\"splide__arrow splide__arrow--next gallery-slider__arrow\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"7\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 7 12\" fill=\"none\">\n                <rect width=\"7.34981\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(0.697355 -0.716726 0.697355 0.716726 0.80957 10.4229)\"\/>\n                <rect width=\"7.70648\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(0.697355 0.716726 -0.697355 0.716726 1.37695 0.506348)\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n\n        <\/div><!-- .splide__arrows -->\n\n    \n<\/div><!-- .splide -->\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--xs wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mats Hoff, a student<\/strong> at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hs-hannover.de\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.hs-hannover.de\">Hochschule Hannover (HsH)<\/a>, has won the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vgh.de\/de\/unternehmen\/newsroom\/vgh-fotopreis\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.vgh.de\/de\/unternehmen\/newsroom\/vgh-fotopreis\">VGH Photo Prize 2026<\/a>. Worth 10,000 euros, the award has been presented every year since 2008 to a student of the <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/\">\u2018Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography\u2019<\/a> programme at HsH. It is one of the most generously endowed prizes for emerging photographers in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">Hoff\u2019s photographic essay \u2018Grey Grounds\u2019 is a personal exploration of Munster, a small town in the Heidekreis district of Lower Saxony. With more than 6,000 soldiers and two military training areas, Munster is the German Army\u2019s largest base. Hardly any other place in Germany is shaped so strongly by the Bundeswehr: it defines the town\u2019s identity and is its largest employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">In Munster, the \u2018Zeitenwende\u2019, rearmament and the debate over conscription meet a military infrastructure built up over decades. <a href=\"https:\/\/matshoff.com\/info\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/matshoff.com\/info\">Mats Hoff<\/a> makes this pressing issue visible, caught between everyday life and rearmament, defence policy and militarisation. His precise visual language draws attention to the quiet, sometimes surprising nuances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"devider has-spacing--none\">\n    <hr>\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n \r\n    \r\n    <div id=\"quote-block_efd6b00d97ed5ff39621f081806b3592\" class=\"block-quote has-spacing--m\">\r\n        <figure class=\"quote\">\r\n            <blockquote>\r\n                <p><strong>For me, it all started<\/strong> with the motorway sign for the Deutsches Panzermuseum.<\/p>\n            <\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n            <figcaption>\r\n\r\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"portrait--inline\" src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-1-52x52.jpg\" width=\"52\" height=\"52\" alt=\"Portrait of Mats Hoff\" \/>\r\n                            <span>Mats Hoff<\/span>\r\n            <\/figcaption>\r\n            \r\n        <\/figure>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018At a time when there is so much talk of the \u201cZeitenwende\u201d, Mats Hoff takes the time to look closely and produce a close-up of the Bundeswehr. At the Munster base he documents exercises, portrays people in their roles and shows how military use is also changing the landscape of Lower Saxony. This approach convinced the jury,\u2019 says jury member Hannah Schuh, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.art-magazin.de\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.art-magazin.de\">Visual Director of ART \u2013 Das Kunstmagazin<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018For me, it all started with the motorway sign for the \u201cDeutsches Panzermuseum\u201d. At some point I wondered what kind of place lay behind it \u2013 at a time when rearmament, the Bundeswehr and the return of conscription were being debated. That made me want to explore it through photography,\u2019 says prize winner Mats Hoff about the idea behind his project.<\/p>\n\n\n    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--wide-left has-spacing--m with-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-1050x700.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Jurysitzung-08Credit-Salome_Ziermann.jpg 2000w\"\n                width=\"1050\" \n                height=\"700\"\n                alt=\"\" \n            \/>\n            \n                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Salome Ziermann<\/span>\n                    <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>VGH Photo Prize 2026<\/strong> jury meeting<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n        \n    <\/figure><!-- post__image -->\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--xs wp-block-paragraph\">This year\u2019s jury: Henner Flohr, head of the F.A.Z. photo desk; Lara Huck, photo editor at DIE ZEIT; Nicole Neumann, photo editor at DER SPIEGEL; Guido Schmidtke, Senior Photo Editor at STERN; Hannah Schuh, Visual Director of ART \u2013 Das Kunstmagazin; Katharina T\u00e4schner, curator at C\/O Berlin; and a representative of VGH Versicherungen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-color-2-background-color has-background has-spacing--m\">\n<div class=\"tableau has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"tableau__column--left\">\n    \n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mats Hoff<\/strong> (born 1995 in Kiel) lives and works in Hamburg. He came to photography through skateboarding and at first used it mainly as a way of documenting. After training as a digital and print media designer, he worked for several years in product design, typography and art direction before his focus shifted more and more to photography. His interest in design and narrative structures still shapes the way he works today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">He has been studying \u2018Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography\u2019 at Hochschule Hannover since 2024 and works across disciplines as a documentary and portrait photographer. His work has appeared in DIE ZEIT, fluter and Emerge Magazine, among others, and has been exhibited at the Horizonte Zingst photo festival and as part of the Fotosommer of the Triennale der Photographie Hamburg. In 2026 he was nominated for the Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award, selected for Plat(t)form at Fotomuseum Winterthur and won the Blank Art Foundation Photo Award.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"tableau__column--right\">\n    \n    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--full has-spacing--m with-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-1400x1750.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-1400x1750.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-1920x2400.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-1050x1313.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-670x838.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-420x525.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-350x438.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-300x375.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-150x188.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Fotopreis-2026-Preistraeger-Portrait-Credit-Fabian-Schwarze-scaled.jpg 2048w\"\n                width=\"1400\" \n                height=\"1750\"\n                alt=\"\" \n            \/>\n            \n                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Fabian Schwarze<\/span>\n                    <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n        \n    <\/figure><!-- post__image -->\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"headline-block has-spacing--xs\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"post__headline\">VGH Sponsorship Award goes to Jonathan Funk<\/h2>\n\n        \n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Since 2025, the<\/strong> VGH Sponsorship Award, worth 2,000 euros, has been presented alongside the VGH Photo Prize. It supports the continuation of a photographic project with funding and mentoring. The 2026 winner is Jonathan Funk, who convinced the jury with his ongoing project \u2018Ji Reh \u00fb Ewran \u2013 Of Roots and Clouds\u2019. The work explores the future of the Rojava region in north-eastern Syria after the change of power in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-block--slider splide has-spacing--m\" data-splide='{\"arrows\":true, \"autoplay\":true}'>\n    <div class=\"splide__track\">\n        <div class=\"splide__list\">\n\n                \n\n                    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--wide-left with-title splide__slide\">\n\n                        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n                                class=\"slide__image\"\n                                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-1050x840.jpg\" \n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-1536x1228.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-2048x1638.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-1920x1535.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1001-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-11-150x120.jpg 150w\" \n                                width=\"1050\"  \n                                height=\"840\" \n                                alt=\"\"  \n                            \/>\n\n                                                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Jonathan Funk\/Ji Reh \u00fb Ewran \u2013 Of Roots and Clouds<\/span>\n                            \n                        <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                                                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>In the Washokani camp<\/strong> for internally displaced people west of Hasakeh, families carry a freshly delivered supply of drinking water to their tents.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                        \n                    <\/figure>\n                \n                        \n\n                    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--wide-left with-title splide__slide\">\n\n                        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n                                class=\"slide__image\"\n                                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-1050x840.jpg\" \n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-1536x1228.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-2048x1638.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-1920x1535.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-1-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1-150x120.jpg 150w\" \n                                width=\"1050\"  \n                                height=\"840\" \n                                alt=\"\"  \n                            \/>\n\n                                                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Jonathan Funk\/Ji Reh \u00fb Ewran \u2013 Of Roots and Clouds<\/span>\n                            \n                        <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                                                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>A statue at<\/strong> a crossroads in Kobane commemorates the Kurdish fighter Arin Mirkan, who killed herself with explosives in 2014 while fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS).<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                        \n                    <\/figure>\n                \n                        \n\n                    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--wide-left with-title splide__slide\">\n\n                        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n                                class=\"slide__image\"\n                                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-1050x840.jpg\" \n                                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-1536x1228.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-2048x1638.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-1920x1535.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Jonathan-Funk-2401-Ji_Reh_u_Ewran_\u00a9jonathanfunk-25-150x120.jpg 150w\" \n                                width=\"1050\"  \n                                height=\"840\" \n                                alt=\"\"  \n                            \/>\n\n                                                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Jonathan Funk\/Ji Reh \u00fb Ewran \u2013 Of Roots and Clouds<\/span>\n                            \n                        <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n                                                    <figcaption class=\"post__image__caption--soehne\"><p><strong>\u2018They shoot from the pylon onwards,\u2019<\/strong> says Ahmed in his vegetable garden on the Turkish-Syrian border. Just a few metres from the border strip, he describes repeated fatal shootings of Kurdish civilians by Turkish border guards.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n                        \n                    <\/figure>\n                \n                       \n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    \n        <div class=\"slider__navigation\">\n            <div class=\"slide__count\"><\/div>\n        <\/div><!-- .slider__navigation -->\n\n        <div class=\"splide__arrows gallery-slider__arrows\">\n\n            <button class=\"splide__arrow splide__arrow--prev gallery-slider__arrow\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"7\" height=\"11\" viewBox=\"0 0 7 11\" fill=\"none\">\n                <rect width=\"7.3498\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(-0.716725 -0.697356 -0.716725 0.697356 6.60693 10.1616)\"\/>\n                <rect width=\"7.70647\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(-0.716725 0.697356 0.716725 0.697356 6.02393 0.513184)\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n\n            <button class=\"splide__arrow splide__arrow--next gallery-slider__arrow\">\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"7\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 7 12\" fill=\"none\">\n                <rect width=\"7.34981\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(0.697355 -0.716726 0.697355 0.716726 0.80957 10.4229)\"\/>\n                <rect width=\"7.70648\" height=\"1.15101\" transform=\"matrix(0.697355 0.716726 -0.697355 0.716726 1.37695 0.506348)\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n\n        <\/div><!-- .splide__arrows -->\n\n    \n<\/div><!-- .splide -->\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-color-2-background-color has-background has-spacing--m\">\n<div class=\"tableau has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"tableau__column--left\">\n    \n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jonathan Funk<\/strong> lives and works in Hannover. He has been studying \u2018Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography\u2019 at Hochschule Hannover since 2023 and works mainly on long-term documentary projects. Shaped by his working-class background and his professional experience in social work, he uses photography to examine political and social change and its impact on individuals and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">His project \u2018Ortskontrollfahrt\u2019 about Germany\u2019s shift to the right has been exhibited internationally and published in SPIEGEL Wissen. His current project \u2018Ji Reh \u00fb Ewran \u2013 Of Roots and Clouds\u2019, which has now won the VGH Sponsorship Award, looks at the future of north-eastern Syria after the change of power. In 2026 Funk was shortlisted for the World Report Award (Student Category) and nominated for the LOBA Newcomer Award. He holds a scholarship from the Hans-B\u00f6ckler-Stiftung.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"tableau__column--right\">\n    \n    <figure class=\"block-photo post__image--full has-spacing--m with-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"post__image__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1400x1750.jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1400x1750.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1920x2400.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-1050x1313.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-670x838.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-420x525.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-350x438.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-300x375.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-150x188.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/VGH-Foerderpreis-2026-Portrait-Jonathan-Funk-2501-Portrait_\u00a9jonathanfunk-scaled.jpg 2048w\"\n                width=\"1400\" \n                height=\"1750\"\n                alt=\"\" \n            \/>\n            \n                            <span class=\"post__image__title\">Photo: Rafael Heygster<\/span>\n                    <\/div><!-- post__image__container -->\n\n        \n    <\/figure><!-- post__image -->\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"headline-block has-spacing--xs\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"post__headline\">A wide range of submissions<\/h2>\n\n        \n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">The quality and diversity of the student work impressed the jury. The 37 projects submitted for the 19th VGH Photo Prize cover both German and international topics. The photographers travelled to Afghanistan, Syria, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, the USA and Western Sahara, among other places. Henryc Fels, Jana Junker, Eyad Abou Kasem and Jana Margarete Schuler received honourable mentions as finalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--xs wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018We thank VGH Versicherungen for this long-standing, lasting and trusting partnership. We are delighted that both prizes allow us to support promising young photographers,\u2019 says Prof. Dr. Karen Fromm, professor in the \u2018Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography\u2019 programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"headline-block has-spacing--xs\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"post__headline\">About the VGH Photo Prize and the programme<\/h2>\n\n        \n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2008, VGH Versicherungen has supported the \u2018Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography\u2019 programme at Hochschule Hannover with the VGH Photo Prize. It is the only degree programme in Germany that focuses on visual journalism and documentary photography. Starting from photography and video, it teaches multidisciplinary visual skills, with an emphasis on journalistic and documentary storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-color-2-background-color has-background has-spacing--m\">\n    <div class=\"headline-block has-spacing--xs\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"post__headline\">At a glance<\/h2>\n\n        \n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Winner VGH Photo Prize 2026:<\/strong><br>Mats Hoff \u2018Grey Grounds\u2019<br><br><br><strong>Winner VGH Sponsorship Award 2026:<\/strong><br>Jonathan Funk \u2018Ji Reh \u00fb Ewran \u2013 Of Roots and Clouds\u2019<br><br><br><strong>Finalists:<\/strong><br>Henryc Fels \u2018Blindg\u00e4nger\u2019<br>Jana Junker \u2018I\u2019m fine, thanks\u2019<br>Eyad Abou Kasem \u2018Der Lange Weg Nach Hause\u2019<br>Jana Margarete Schuler \u2018Zwischen Blut und Glitzer\u2019<br><br><br><strong>Dates:<\/strong><br>Award ceremony and exhibition opening: Wednesday, 2 December 2026, 7 pm<br>Exhibition: 3 December 2026 to 10 January 2027<br><br><br><strong>Venue:<\/strong><br>GAF \u2013 Galerie f\u00fcr Fotografie<br>Eisfabrik, Seilerstra\u00dfe 15d<br>30171 Hannover<br>Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday, 12 noon to 6 pm<br><br><br><strong>More information:<\/strong> <br>https:\/\/www.vgh.de\/de\/unternehmen\/newsroom\/vgh-fotopreis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-spacing--none\">\n<div class=\"devider has-spacing--none\">\n    <hr>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"headline-block has-spacing--xs\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"post__headline\">More news<\/h2>\n\n        \n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"four-columns-teaser has-spacing--m\">\n\n    \r\n<article class=\"post-teaser post-80163 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-events category-news-en tag-360-vr-en tag-alumni-en tag-event-en tag-rafael-heygster-en tag-war-conflict\">\r\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-categories\">\n\t<a class=\"post__tag\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/events\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Events<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/events\/young-perspectives-on-old-conflicts\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\">Young Perspectives on Old Conflicts.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-excerpt\">A picture editor, a satellite investigator, an XR producer and two photographers: on 10 November in Berlin, they\u2019ll discuss what kind of storytelling it takes for conflict reporting to be heard.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\r\n\r\n\t<figure class=\"post__image\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/events\/young-perspectives-on-old-conflicts\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-350x197.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-image--two-column--small size-post-image--two-column--small\" alt=\"Rooftops of Kharkiv, with one building inserted as a drawing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-1050x591.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-670x377.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-420x236.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/nowhere-media-you-destroy-we-create-charkiw.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/figure><!-- .post__image -->\r\n\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\n<article class=\"post-teaser post-79939 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-awards category-news-en tag-award-en tag-politik-gesellschaft-en tag-war-conflict\">\r\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-categories\">\n\t<a class=\"post__tag\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/awards\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Awards<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/awards\/award-of-excellence-for-jonathan-funk-at-cpoy\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\">Award of Excellence for Jonathan Funk.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-excerpt\">The student has been recognised in the \u2018Portrait\u2019 category of College Photographer of the Year \u2013 for an image from north-eastern Syria.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\r\n\r\n\t<figure class=\"post__image\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/awards\/award-of-excellence-for-jonathan-funk-at-cpoy\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-350x280.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-image--two-column--small size-post-image--two-column--small\" alt=\"An older man stands in a destroyed house, looking through a large hole in the wall at a vegetable field.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-350x280.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-1400x1120.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-1050x840.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-670x536.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-420x336.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/jonathan-funk-ahmed-cpoy81.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/figure><!-- .post__image -->\r\n\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\n<article class=\"post-teaser post-79555 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-exhibitions category-news-en tag-exhibition-en tag-hannover-en tag-arbeit-beruf-en\">\r\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-categories\">\n\t<a class=\"post__tag\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/exhibitions\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Exhibitions<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/exhibitions\/keeping-the-city-clean\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\">Keeping the city clean.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-excerpt\">Many waste workers wonder whether their bodies will last until they retire. HsH students photographed them at work, and ver.di is showing the pictures from 27 October.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\r\n\r\n\t<figure class=\"post__image\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/exhibitions\/keeping-the-city-clean\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-350x525.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-image--two-column--small size-post-image--two-column--small\" alt=\"A person in a soiled protective suit and respirator stands in a dark hall.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-350x525.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-1400x2100.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-1050x1575.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-670x1005.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-420x630.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall-150x225.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Anna-Daliah-Behnke_Abfallwirtschaft_Bioabfall.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/figure><!-- .post__image -->\r\n\r\n<\/article>\r\n\r\n<article class=\"post-teaser post-78522 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-application tag-event-en tag-study-application-en tag-studium-bewerbung-en\">\r\n\t<header class=\"entry-header\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-categories\">\n\t<a class=\"post__tag\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/application\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Application<\/a><\/div>\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/application\/portfolio-consultations-all-dates-up-to-the-application-deadline-2027\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\">Plan your portfolio consultation early.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-excerpt\">All dates up to the application deadline are set. Book now and get feedback from our professors more than once.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t<\/header><!-- .entry-header -->\r\n\r\n\t<figure class=\"post__image\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/news-en\/application\/portfolio-consultations-all-dates-up-to-the-application-deadline-2027\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-350x233.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-image--two-column--small size-post-image--two-column--small\" alt=\"Portfolio Day 2026 at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts: students present their work.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-1400x934.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/portfolio-consultation-portfolio-day-2026_0049-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/figure><!-- .post__image -->\r\n\r\n<\/article>\r\n\n<\/div><!-- .2-columns-teaser-->\n\n    \n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-spacing--default has-spacing--default\">\n<div class=\"devider has-spacing--none\">\n    <hr>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"headline-block has-spacing--xs\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"post__headline\">Recommended by the editors<\/h2>\n\n        \n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"teaser-grid grid-layout--3col has-spacing--s width--inline\">\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/after-dark\/you-have-to-make-your-boundaries-clear\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">After dark<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                \u2018You have to make your boundaries clear\u2019                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>During the week Selma works at a nursery; at weekends she works the door of a club. On respect, safety and standing your ground as a woman in nightlife.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-768x432.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-1050x591.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-670x377.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-420x236.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/selma-grenzen-zeigen-thumb.jpg 1920w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"432\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/advice\/journalism-internships\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Advice<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Journalism internships: how to find a placement and write an application that stands out.                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>How do you find the right internship in journalism, how do you make your application convincing, and what should you bear in mind during the internship? With concrete tips from professors and students.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-768x512.jpeg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-1920x1280.jpeg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-1400x933.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-1050x700.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-670x447.jpeg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-420x280.jpeg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-350x233.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_312C868D6676-1-Foto-Stefan-Nieland.jpeg 2048w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"Five people in the F.A.Z. photo studio stage a creative scene with frying pans. At the centre: Sophie Boyer and Stefan Nieland, both doing journalism internships from the Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography programme in Hannover. The scene shows collaboration and creative practice during an editorial internship.\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/water\/water-privatisation-in-chile-a-village-fights-for-its-water\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Water<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Water privatisation in Chile: a village fights for its water                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>In hardly any other country is this resource so completely in private hands. In Patagonia, one community is fighting back against the consequences.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-768x549.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-1024x731.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-1536x1097.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-2048x1463.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-1920x1372.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-1400x1000.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-1050x750.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-670x479.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-420x300.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-350x250.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/yblya_Stella-Meyer-und-Sarah-Schneider-17-150x107.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"549\" \r\n                                    alt=\"A till and scales on the counter of a small shop in Chile, shelves full of goods behind \u2013 water privatisation in Patagonia\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n        <\/div><!-- .teaser-grid -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n        <div class=\"teaser-grid grid-layout--3col has-spacing--s width--inline\">\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/ideals\/the-last-bastion-lutzerath\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Ideals<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                The last bastion                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>L\u00fctzerath has been \u2018excavated\u2019 \u2013 despite resistance and occupation. Our author witnessed the activists\u2019 daily life and struggle up to the eviction.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-1400x934.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/13_Bosshardt_Samuel_1.jpg 1600w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/work\/kidfluencers-business-model\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Work<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Kidfluencers as a business model: when children become a commodity                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>Child influencers earn their parents a lot of money \u2013 but who protects the youngest when their privacy is marketed in public?<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kidfluencer_MelineBuehler-02-150x100.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"Posed photo of a teenage kidfluencer sitting on a chair in her darkened room. She is putting on make-up for social media while looking at her smartphone, which is framed by a bright LED ring light.\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n                <article class=\"post-teaser\">\r\n\r\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/power-and-control\/leaving-the-church-maybe-this-isnt-the-right-place-for-you\/\" rel=\"permalink\">\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"post-teaser__content\">\r\n\r\n                            <span class=\"entry-categories\">Power and control<\/span>\r\n                            <h3 class=\"post-teaser__headline\">\r\n                                Leaving the church: \u2018Maybe this isn\u2019t the right place for you\u2019                            <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"post-teaser__excerpt\">\r\n                                <p>The congregation once ruled every part of her life. Two years ago our author turned her back on it \u2013 and today she sees more clearly.<\/p>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/div><!-- .post-teaser__content -->\r\n\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                            <figure class=\"post-teaser__image\">\r\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  \r\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-768x512.jpg\" \r\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-1400x933.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-1050x700.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-670x447.jpg 670w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Noemi_Ehrat_Kirche6562-150x100.jpg 150w\" \r\n                                    width=\"768\"  \r\n                                    height=\"512\" \r\n                                    alt=\"Black-and-white photo: the altar with a cross in an ornate niche of the Bethlehem Church in Hannover \u2013 photo essay on leaving the church\"\r\n                                \/>\r\n                            <\/figure>\r\n\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n                <\/article><!--- .post-teaser-->\r\n\r\n            \r\n        <\/div><!-- .teaser-grid -->\r\n\r\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"btn-wrapper has-spacing--m\">\n        <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/en\/magazine\/\" target=\"_blank\">TO THE MAGAZINE HOMEPAGE<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-spacing--none has-color-3-background-color has-background has-spacing--none\">\n    <nav id=\"section-navigation-block_71352fd1636c007c69403bc9fd13a684\" class=\"section-navigation has-spacing--m\">\n        <ul>\n\n                \n                    <li>Contact<\/li>\n                \n            \n            \n                        \n                        \n\n            \n\n        <\/ul>\n        \n    <\/nav>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block has-spacing--m\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"pinned-block__column--left\">\n    \n\n \n\n    <div id=\"lead-in-block_1ef739f8c2d93a8fe084e34d9c48e7e4\" class=\"block-lead-in typo--soehne font-size--xl has-spacing--m width--full\">\n        <p><strong>Your contact partners<\/strong> will be happy to assist you with your personal concerns. 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Bauernschmitt<\/a><\/span>\n                    <span class=\"info-item__text--small\">\n                        <span><a href=\"mailto:lars.bauernschmitt@hs-hannover.de\">Send an email<\/a><\/span><span><a href=\"tel:+49 511 9296 2467\">+49 511 9296 2467<\/a><\/span>                    <\/span>\n                <\/p>\n\n                <figure class=\"info-item__image\">\n\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/lars-bauernschmitt\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"52\" height=\"52\" src=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/prof_lars_bauernschmitt_thumb-1-52x52.jpg\" class=\"attachment-image-portrait size-image-portrait\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/prof_lars_bauernschmitt_thumb-1-52x52.jpg 52w, https:\/\/visualjournalism.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/prof_lars_bauernschmitt_thumb-1.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 52px) 100vw, 52px\" \/><\/a>                <\/figure>\n                \n            <\/div><!-- .info-item__content -->\n            \n        <\/div><!-- .info-item--full -->\n\n \n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"post__paragraph is-style-typo--soehne has-spacing--m has-spacing--default wp-block-paragraph\">Hochschule Hannover<br>Faculty III &#8211; Media, Information and Design<br>Expo Plaza 2<br>D-30539 Hanover<\/p>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"btn-wrapper has-spacing--m\">\n        <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hs-hannover.de\" target=\"_blank\">HS-HANNOVER.DE<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The HsH student receives the award for his essay \u2018Grey Grounds\u2019 about Munster, a small town shaped by the German armed forces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":78560,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[82,78,110],"tags":[329,369,344,408],"class_list":["post-78538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-news-en","category-updates","tag-award-en","tag-politik-gesellschaft-en","tag-vgh-photo-prize-en","tag-war-conflict"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.7 (Yoast SEO v28.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mats Hoff wins the VGH Photo Prize 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"HsH student Mats Hoff wins the VGH Photo Prize 2026 for \u2018Grey Grounds\u2019, his photo essay on Munster, a small town shaped by the German armed forces.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/visualjournalism.de\\\/en\\\/news-en\\\/awards\\\/mats-hoff-wins-the-vgh-photo-prize-2026\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/visualjournalism.de\\\/en\\\/news-en\\\/awards\\\/mats-hoff-wins-the-vgh-photo-prize-2026\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Elena Jaekel\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/visualjournalism.de\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/872fec89801ec0d04fc9606080a116a1\"},\"headline\":\"Mats Hoff wins the VGH Photo Prize 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