Starke Frauen.Starkes Handwerk

"Behind the Scenes: Strong Women. Strong Craft."
Photo stories from the Handwerkskammer Dortmund competition

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to take part in the photo competition “Starke Frauen. Starkes Handwerk” (Strong Women. Strong Craft), hosted by the #Handwerkskammer Dortmund. The theme immediately spoke to me — not just as a photographer, but as someone deeply inspired by women breaking norms and thriving in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Over the course of four days, I followed and photographed three remarkable women in their craft environments:

a stonemason, a chimney sweep and a metal worker.

For the competition, I submitted only two images per woman — a mere glimpse into a much larger and more personal documentation. Here on the blog, I want to share more of the images that didn’t make it into the official selection, but absolutely deserve to be seen.

Climbing with the Chimney Sweep

Our shoot took place at the iconic Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, a former steelworks turned industrial park — the perfect backdrop for a modern chimney sweep. We spent an entire day navigating narrow iron staircases, lugging photo gear up and down rusted platforms with stunning industrial views. Her calm confidence, set against the backdrop of towering steel structures and aged brickwork, made for an unforgettable series.

The Stonemason and the Cathedral

I met the stonemason first in her workshop, surrounded by Madonna Statues, stone blocks and the smell of fresh dust. A few days later, we reunited in a completely different setting: Münster Cathedral, specifically in the section called “Das Paradies”. Watching her work amid the historic beauty of the Dom, hands covered in dust, eyes focused — it felt almost timeless. Craft and architecture in perfect harmony.

Strength in Steel

The metalworker I photographed in her workshop, where she was the only woman among the team. Sparks flew — literally — as she moved with absolute ease through an environment of noise, fire, and steel. Her quiet strength stood in beautiful contrast to the raw intensity of her surroundings.

These women are not only masters of their craft — they are pioneers, role models, and reminders that skill has no gender.

It was an honour to capture a few moments of their working lives and tell a part of their story through my lens. Below, I’m sharing a selection of the images that didn’t go into the competition — but carry just as much weight and inspiration.

Thank you to the Handwerkskammer Dortmund for creating a platform to celebrate powerful stories like these.

#handwerkskammerdortmund