Life Goes On

• Photographer
  Yan Li, United States
• Website
  https://www.yliphotos.com/
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/yli.photos/

Nepal had a massive earthquake in the year of 2015. The Kathmandu
Valley was one of the hardest hit areas, with the shock waves bringing
homes and temples crashing to the ground. Now it has been two
years since the disaster, but unfortunately life in the Kathmandu
Valley is far from being normal. Tourism, a key money-earner for
Nepal, has failed to revive, causing the government to reduce funds
for reconstructions of homes and ancient temples. Many of the locals,
who are still living in temporary accommodation, have to rebuild their
homes using simple tools without any government help. Despite
hardships, life goes on. Children have been back to school, culture-rich
wedding are held in local communities, and religious rituals are taken
place at the base of temple ruins etc.

Yan Li is a documentary photographer whose work explores the fragility and richness of human experience. With a focus on long-term, narrative-driven projects, he aims to capture fleeting moments, reveal personal stories, and preserve the intangible heritage of cultures facing rapid transformation. His photographs often center on communities at the margins — workers, elders, artisans — whose lives echo broader human truths. Yan's commitment to visual storytelling has earned him international recognition, including awards from the Sony WPA, TPOTY, IPA, and Px3.

Awards - Winner, Travel Category, Sony World Photography Awards (Open Competition), 2024
- 4th Place (Commended), Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY), 2024
- 1st Place, People and Lifestyle Category, International Photography Awards (IPA), 2017
- 1st Place, Editorial, General News Category, International Photography Awards (IPA), 2017
- 2nd Place, Press, People/Personality Category, Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3), 2017