OLIVIER FOLLMI

BIOGRAPHY

At the age of just 18, Olivier Föllmi obtained a scholarship to go to discover Afghanistan. This adventure outside of time decided his fate: until 1986, the French/Swiss photographer explored the Himalayas on foot, in love with the mountain and its population. On this occasion, he discovered the Zanskar, a Tibetan valley in India that was to become his adopted home. It also became the point of contact with two children of Himalayan farmers whose schooling he would later sponsor. The photographic report of their shared story won an award at the World Press Photo in 1991. The following year, he founded the association HOPE (Humanity Organisation for People and Education) in service to education worldwide. Olivier Föllmi relates his expeditions to distant lands in illustrated books and, recently, in a film. He is regularly solicited by prestigious media such as National Geographic, Paris Match, Geo, and Life, and his photography has been exhibited all over the world.  ... See more See less