Hi! My name is Laurel Chor.
I'm an Emmy-nominated freelance journalist, photographer, filmmaker,
and National Geographic Explorer from Hong Kong.
I am a photojournalist at heart, but I also make documentaries (as a producer, director, or on-camera correspondent), write, make podcasts (as a producer or host), and give talks.
My work examines the relationships between people, society, and nature, and how they’re affected by transnational issues, namely conflict and climate change. I have worked in 35+ countries across all 7 continents, and speak English, French, Cantonese and Mandarin (and can get by in Spanish).
My work examines the relationships between people, society, and nature, and how they’re affected by transnational issues, namely conflict and climate change. I have worked in 35+ countries across all 7 continents, and speak English, French, Cantonese and Mandarin (and can get by in Spanish).
I have written, photographed, or produced documentaries for the New York Times, National Geographic, the Washington Post, VICE (on HBO, Hulu, and SHOWTIME), Al Jazeera, Getty, the Guardian, Reuters, AFP, the Los Angeles Times, the Telegraph, NBC News, Quartz, the Independent, the Spectator, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, Hong Kong Free Press, South China Morning Post, and others.
My work covering the Hong Kong 2019-2020 protests were recognized with an Emmy nomination and an honorable mention for the IWMF Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism awards. I have also won awards from the Overseas Press Club of America and the Society of Publishers in Asia.
Since 2022, I have been focused on covering the Russia-Ukraine War. My work was included in CNN's "photos that define the war in Ukraine".
My main project in Ukraine is co-directing an independent feature-length documentary on three civilians who risk their lives to help others on the front lines of Donbas. (Interested in becoming a producing or funding partner? Reach out!)
Earlier in the Russia-Ukraine War, we also made a short documentary and podcast series for Project Brazen:
My work covering the Hong Kong 2019-2020 protests were recognized with an Emmy nomination and an honorable mention for the IWMF Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism awards. I have also won awards from the Overseas Press Club of America and the Society of Publishers in Asia.
Since 2022, I have been focused on covering the Russia-Ukraine War. My work was included in CNN's "photos that define the war in Ukraine".
My main project in Ukraine is co-directing an independent feature-length documentary on three civilians who risk their lives to help others on the front lines of Donbas. (Interested in becoming a producing or funding partner? Reach out!)
Earlier in the Russia-Ukraine War, we also made a short documentary and podcast series for Project Brazen:
In 2022, I also hosted a short documentary about cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo for VICE News. My photograph of a copper and cobalt mine was selected as one of TIME's Top 100 Photos of 2022.
Other stories I’ve worked on recently:
- In Kyiv, Drag Queens Perform to Forget The War — And to Defy Putin (photos/text) for Huffington Post
- In Ukraine’s liberated east, winter aid and heating worries (photos/text) for the New Humanitarian
- How Strippers Deal with Covid in Florida (photos/text) for Huffington Post
- The bombed Mariupol theater troupe is back on stage with a homegrown Ukrainian play (photos) for NPR
I recently completed a Masters in Biodiversity, Conservation & Management at Christ Church, Oxford University. My research looked at the trade in manta rays for traditional Chinese medicine, and Western media's portrayal of the conservation threats to manta ray populations.
The best way to keep updated about my work is to follow me on Instagram.
You can reach out to me here.