Denis Scheck

German literary critic. A series of portraits for a German literary magazine.

I had the opportunity to photograph the well-known literary critic Denis Scheck for a literary magazine.
Denis Scheck is not only known for his precise judgements on current literature, but also as the presenter of the TV programme “Druckfrisch”, in which he regularly comments on authors, works and developments in the literary scene.

The shoot took place in a bookshop. Denis Scheck proved to be an absolute professional: focussed, open, friendly and with a keen sense of effect and visual language. Despite a tight schedule, he made time for various set-ups and was also prepared to take part in humorous scenes – which not only made the photos special, but also the moment.

This resulted in lively, unconventional shots that capture his personality beyond the critic’s desk. The result is a photographic series that oscillates between seriousness and tongue-in-cheek self-irony – entirely in the style of the man who loves books but is never sparing with criticism.