José Lopes Amaral is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and photojournalist with extensive experience in visual storytelling focused on social issues, human rights, and protest movements. He is best known internationally for his work during the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, where he courageously stood against anti-riot police to protect fellow journalists from rubber bullets and pepper spray.
Amaral began his career in 2009 in Luxembourg, where he documented the Portuguese community through assignments for local media. Trained in visual communication and window display design, he later expanded into documentary photography and video journalism. His move to Asia in 2013 and transition into video journalism in 2016 became key milestones in his professional journey.
After stepping back from frontline reporting in 2023, Amaral shifted his focus to long-form documentary projects. Since 2025, he has concentrated on street photography and documentary filmmaking, exploring the human condition and addressing urgent social and environmental issues. His current work aims to amplify underreported stories and give a voice to marginalised communities across Asia and Europe.
As a documentary photographer and filmmaker, Amaral combines years of frontline journalism with a deep commitment to visual storytelling, making his portfolio a valuable resource for those interested in human rights photography, protest documentation, and social documentary film.