BIOGRAPHY

Laurin Strele portrait

 

Laurin Strele is an Austrian-born, photographer and photojournalist renowned for compelling storytelling and evocative imagery. As a Leica Photographer, Laurin’s work focuses on capturing the human experience in its rawest form, often in challenging and conflict-affected regions.

In recent years, Laurin has documented some of the most pressing global crises. His photo essays have shed light on the war in Ukraine (2024), capturing the resilience of soldiers and civilians amidst devastation. During his journeys to Lebanon (2024 & 2025), he chronicled the impact of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, highlighting both destruction and perseverance in Beirut and beyond.

With a career spanning Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Syria, and many other countries, Laurin has earned international recognition for his ability to capture the beauty, resilience, and complexity of diverse cultures. His work has been featured in major publications such as GEO, Newsweek, and Der Spiegel.


Awards & Recognitions

Selected Highlights

2025

Highlights
  • IAPA Awards 
    1st Place, Travel Photographer of the Year
  • The Independent Photographer
    Top 10 Best Images of the Year
  • NTD Photography Competition
    Finalist
  • Budapest Photo Awards
    Finalist
  • Imacres Awards
    3rd Place
  • AAP Magazine Awards
    2nd Place
  • Global Lens Awards
    Honorable Mention
  • Eyeshot Open Call
    Finalist
  • TPA “Aging”
    2nd Place
  • Int. Refocus World Photo
    Honorable Mention
  • The Independent Photographer
    3rd Place

2024

Highlights
  • The Independent Photographer
    3rd Place
  • Int. Refocus Photojournalism Awards
    Bronze
  • The Independent Photographer
    Editor’s Pick
  • Berlin Photojournalism Awards
    Finalist
  • Siena Awards
    Finalist

2023

Highlights
  • New York Photography Awards
    2nd Place
  • Boynes Art Awards
    1st Place
  • Pink Lady Food Photo
    Winner

2022

Highlights
  • IPA Photography Awards
    Honorable Mention

Exhibitions

Selected Shows

2025

“Worlds Apart”
Shanghai, China
“Encounters”
Zurich, Switzerland
“Stories from a Fractured World”
Toronto, Canada
“Eyeshot Finalists”
Bologna, Italy
“Metaphors of Recent Times”
San Francisco, USA

2024

“The Independent Photographer”
London, United Kingdom

2023

“Out of the Ordinary”
PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary

2022

“Faces of Change”
Vienna, Austria

Publications

A selection of outlets that have published Laurin’s work

GEO Magazine

Der Spiegel

Newsweek

TAZ – Die Tageszeitung

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)

Getty Images via Middle East Images (MEI)

Laurin Strele portrait — documentary photographer

Laurin’s portfolio captures humanity and resilience across the globe. Explore his work or reach out directly for collaborations and assignments.