I am a French photographer, engaged in a practice at the crossroads of documentary and artistic work. In this capacity, I am a member of the Hans Lucas studio for my documentary-oriented projects and represented by three galleries — in China and Italy — for my more personal and artistic work.

Before settling in China in 2015, I lived in Italy for ten years, a country to which I remain deeply attached, particularly because two of my children still live there. Today, based in Nanjing in the east of the country, I tirelessly travel this immense land of fascinating diversity. Each region is a world unto itself, with its own landscapes, cultures, languages, and traditions. From the tropical south with Thai or Burmese influences, to the northern steppes inhabited by Mongols and Manchus, and the Central Asian-like west inhabited by Tibetans and Uyghurs, China never ceases to amaze me. It will take me more than a lifetime to explore it all — and that’s a good thing!

In my photographic practice, I try to be a bridge: a link between worlds, a connection between people. I try to capture the humanity that binds us, through the extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Among all the peoples I’ve had the chance to meet, the Tibetans have left the deepest impression on me — to the point of inspiring this road-trip project. And as I often say: to be a bridge means not staying on one side. I need to connect, to transmit, to let emotions and perspectives circulate. Photography allows me to do this — without words, without barriers, using a universal language.

In the same spirit of sharing, I’ve developed an activity of photography coaching and training. My approach is deliberately non-academic: what matters to me is to help each person develop a personal, sensitive, and authentic photographic expression. My classes are mainly aimed at adults who seek a renewed way of seeing the world.

To discover more about my work, I invite you to visit my website: www.laurencechellali.com
I also keep a blog in French — www.photofolle.net — that I wish I could update more regularly if only I had more time… but it remains a lively space where I share reflections, images, reports, and inspiration.

Meeting other enthusiasts, exchanging, discovering together: this is what gives true meaning to these journeys. I look forward to welcoming you into this beautiful dynamic!