Jose Lopes Amaral

José Lopes Amaral is a Luso-Luxembourgish documentary-style photographer and filmmaker, documenting the human condition through photography and film. He is known for his work on human rights, social issues, and civil unrest. His commitment to truth and storytelling earned international recognition during the 2019 Hong Kong protests. He also became widely known in Hong Kong for a powerful moment in which he put himself in danger to stop an advancing police brigade, shielding fellow journalists from rubber bullets and pepper spray.

With a background in visual communication and window display design, Amaral began his career in journalism in 2009, briefly documenting the Portuguese community in Luxembourg for a local newspaper. Over time, his style evolved into a distinctive fusion of photo and video journalistic precision with artistic expression.

After 16 years in the field, Amaral took a hiatus in 2023 to redefine his creative direction. Returning in 2025, he shifted away from conventional press media to focus on documentary-style photography and film projects that highlight underreported stories and amplify marginalized voices. His work continues to explore themes of human rights, social issues, civil unrest, and environmental concerns through a visually poetic lens, aiming to evoke empathy and inspire meaningful change.

Amaral’s photography and filmmaking offer deeply nuanced narratives that capture both the emotional and factual truths of the human experience. His mission is to foster understanding and bring attention to the world’s most pressing and overlooked stories.