Juliane Herrmann – Best Portfolio

The yearly portfolio-viewing event took place in November at the Haus der Photographie in Hamburg's Deichtorhallen. On December 5 the winners of Best Portfolio were announced by a jury that included a representative of the LFI editorial team. The following is an interview with Juliane Herrmann, who came in third.


What were you expecting from the portfolio review?

I had worked very consistently on my portfolio for the last years, and decided it was time to present it in a more professional setting. As a photographer who has been intensely dedicated to one theme for many years, I was naturally curious to see how the outside world might perceive my work. So my main expectation was to get feedback from an external perspective. What I found particularly interesting was the fact that one piece of work can be perceived and valued in a very different manner depending on the context and the reviewer.


Which of your pictures did you present – and which did you not show?

As a main focus, I presented my photo book Den Haag. I had been on a photographic exploration of Den Haag, documenting the city through urban views, portraits and snap shots. It was a desire to get to know a neighbouring country that in some ways is similar, yet at the same time very different, to my own, that took me to the Dutch city beyond the dunes.

In addition, I showed a project I am currently working on, but which is not yet completed. I also think it's important to get feedback during the working process.


What was the silliest bit of advice you ever heard?

From a certain perspective there is no silly advice. In every suggestion, regardless of who it comes from, there is a spark of truth. You just have to know where to classify the criticism. I also like to show my work to people who have little to do with photography. It's something of a reality check. They give me unadulterated feedback, even if it might appear somewhat confused at first.


What are your plans for the future?

I'm currently working on a new project! It deals with freemasonry, a traditionally closed society – which is why there are, to date, so few pictures focussing on it. I want to complete the project within the next months and to publish some of the material as a photo book. I'm planning to set up a crowd-funding campaign to do so. So things remain exciting...