I am Anuj Adhikary, a Nepal-based documentary and adventure photographer capturing mountains, people, culture, and endurance landscapes. With over 10 years of professional experience, my work spans development, outdoor sports, and high-end travel, telling stories in demanding and remote environments. Download Portfolio PDF
Documentary | Mountains | People | Action | Animals | Videos
I began my career with commissioned assignments for the Everest Marathon and UN-Habitat, and have since collaborated with global institutions including the World Bank and UNICEF (Regional and Nepal). During the pandemic, I served as the United Nations’ COVID-19 response photographer in Nepal, documenting the crisis on the ground. I have also covered major outdoor events and journeys across South Asia, Europe, and the Himalayas, and documented significant social movements such as the Gen Z protests of September 2025, producing photography and drone footage widely published by Reuters and The New York Times. Additionally, I have worked with luxury brands including &Beyond and Abercrombie & Fitch as both photographer and guide. My work has been featured by international media including the BBC, National Geographic, Reuters, and The New York Times, and on the covers of multiple magazines and United Nations reports.
Collaborate with me to create meaningful visual stories across documentary, adventure and travel projects. WhatsApp or Email
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Mountains & landscapes
I’ve spent much of my life travelling through Nepal, and the hills and mountains have a special place in my work—and in my heart. From the Himalayas to the Alps, I’m drawn to dramatic landscapes, quiet moments and the challenge of finding a frame that makes a familiar place feel new. I love working with natural light, minimalist compositions and aerial perspectives, but mostly, I’m just a sucker for a good view.
Next: Documentary
Documentary & stories
Documentary photography is about being there long enough to understand what is happening. I enjoy getting beyond the obvious and finding the small moments, people and details that make a story feel real. My work has taken me into communities, development projects, humanitarian assignments and major social events, often in places and situations where being adaptable and unobtrusive matters as much as having a good camera.
Next: People
People & portraits
I like photographing people when they forget they are being photographed. Whether it’s a carefully made portrait or an unplanned moment, I look for expressions, gestures and details that reveal something about the person. Years of working across cultures and communities have taught me to build trust quickly, give people space and let their personality come through naturally.
Next: Action
Action & sports
I’ve spent years photographing athletes in some seriously demanding places—from trail races in the Himalayas to international events in the Alps. Action photography is as much about anticipation as it is about timing: knowing where to be, finding the right light and waiting for that split second when movement, emotion and environment come together. I’m comfortable going the extra mile—quite literally—to get the shot.
Next: Wildlife
Wildlife & animals
Wildlife photography combines two things I love: being outdoors and waiting for something unexpected to happen. Much of my work with animals has taken place in Nepal’s forests, mountains and rural landscapes, where understanding the environment is just as important as the camera. I prefer photographs that show animals as part of their world, rather than simply as isolated subjects.
Next: Videos
Cover Page Features
UN Country Report
2021
UN Covid-19 Preparedness
2021
UN Strategic Summary
2019
Running Everest
2019
Be Brave as You Run
2019
TRAIN
2018
Esprit Trail
2018
UN Habitat Shelter Provision
2016
Assignments and Clients
See 60+ assignments
| Assignment | Role | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4P Documentary Terre des Hommes | Videographer/Editor | 2026 | |
| Beauty with a Purpose (Miss Nepal) | Videographer/Editor | 2026 | |
| World Bank GRID Project | Photographer | 2023, 2025 | |
| The Data Values Project | Photographer | 2022 | |
| Yeti Documentary | Videographer | 2021 | |
| UN Covid-19 Response | Photographer | 2020 | |
| UN Habitat Shelter Program | Photographer and Writer | 2016 | |
| UTMB | Photographer | 2017 | |
| Ultra Tour Monte Rosa | Photographer | 2017, 2022 | |
| Everest Marathon | Media Team Lead | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024 | |
| Manaslu Trail Race | Photographer | 2017, 2018 | |
| Mustang Trail Race | Photographer / Videographer | 2017, 2018 | |
| MTB Himalaya | Photographer | 2017 | |
| Bhutan and Tibet exploration and promotion | Photographer | 2024 | |
| Mera Peak Expedition | Photographer / Videographer | 2022 | |
| Mountain Biking in Bhutan | Videographer / Editor | 2018 |
Client Reviews
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Seeing his dedication, flexibility, and positive energy, we would gladly work with him again! |
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Manon le SignorCommunications Strategist Terre des hommes |
Anuj is not only highly professional, but also incredibly creative. He has an amazing eye for detail and was able to capture moments beautifully, with a real understanding of what was needed. |
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Carlie DragoneFounder MakerChange |
My own love if his photos notwithstanding, the team at World Bank's GRID Nepal were nothing short of blown away with the quality of work we received. Colleagues have consistently reached out to me to inquire about the photos. |
 Ruby KarkiConsultant / The World Bank - GRID Nepal |
He was absolutely excellent, getting simply amazing footage and showing both creativity and dedication in his work. He was always proactive, reliable, hard working, and - importantly for such a long assignment - great company and fun to be with. |
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Andrew BenfieldDocumentary / Filmmaker |
Anuj has an incredible gift for capturing special moments and situations in a visual language. Furthermore, I experienced the collaboration with Anuj as extremely professional, efficient and goal-oriented. |
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Franzi GisslerFirst runner-up Duathlon World Championship Founder / Swiss Trailrunning |
I know of very few photographers talented enough to capture stories in their pictures. Anuj does this effortlessly. His curation talent also ensures you get a complete story in photos and videos. |
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Raj GyawaliFounder Socialtours |
Anuj captures life as it is, beautiful images that, while respecting the dignity of the subjects, still also shows harsh realities. He is very reliable and quick to communicate. |
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Bruno DeceukelierWSM Asia Coordinator WSM |
He went knee deep in freezing glacial water and ice just to get a good shot. He walked with 30 kg of equipment on his shoulders every day for 12 hours, at 3000 to 5000m elevations. A great professional with top notch skills and equipment, but above all a lovely, trustable person. |
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Beatrice LessiTrail Runner + Blogger Ask the Monsters |
I would highly recommend Anuj to anyone who needs a professional visual content creator based in Kathmandu and mobile enough to move anywhere. |
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Tashi BistaProducer Fixer for Nepal |
He has a skill for extracting a cohesive story out of seemingly random pieces of footage, and a great eye for editing right timings. More recently, I watched him transition from behind the camera to behind the scenes of the fantastic Snail Trail Series, a trail race in Kathmandu. |
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Sitara GrewalTrail Runner Mountain Biker |
Anuj does everything it takes to finish a task he takes responsibility of, and he does it as perfectly as possible. |
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Irfan KhanPhotographer Himalayan Creatives |
Anuj is one of the best photographers / videographers that I’ve worked with in the trail running community. He’s willing to put in the extra effort to find the best shooting locations. He knows how to capture the setting and mood of his subjects and has a talent for always getting the best shots. |
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Tayte PollmannNike Runner + Writer Tayte on Trails |
Anuj communicates efficiently; his initiative and work ethics are exemplary. He welcomes my questions, is open to learning and will do all that is necessary to find a solution. I highly recommend Anuj if you are looking for a motivated, reliable professional. |
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Jill WheatleyMountain Runner + Blogger Mountains of My Mind |
I can think of few freelancers who have been as dependable as Anuj was, or whose work I have enjoyed reading and developing more. His gaze is never intrusive and his tales, though fantastic, is never essentializing. Anuj’s work is always authentic, witty and incisive. |
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Sanjit Bhakta PradhanangaFormer Editor The Kathmandu Post |
Always working with initiative and a sense of humour Anuj captured some of the unique features of our Ultra Tour Monte Rosa. The result was a great set of photos we could share on social media to give our community a new insight and to excite them about the race. |
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Lizzy HawkerRace Director Ultra Tour Monte Rosa |
Anuj is without doubt one of the best photographers I know. He sees the best in nature, can frame a subject in any landscape, and also capture an emotion in those more human moments. He has the professionalism, the skills, and an enthusiasm for photography that is infectious... |
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Jamie Ross MackenzieMountain Runner Everest Mailrun |
His photos are great – magazine quality. You get a great selection, good for magazine covers, center spreads and for general posting on Facebook etc. He will work all night to get a job done on time. Not many people do this. |
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Richard BullRace Director Trail Running Nepal |
He is highly motivated, extraordinarily talented multimedia developer, who is dedicated to the completion of his assignments beyond expectations. He has a firm grasp of what it means to be one of the best in the region. Anuj's expert knowledge of visuals coupled with his desire for perfectionism makes his skills something I wholeheartedly endorse. |
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Sarah LevineCo-Founder Himalayan Outdoor Center |
Anuj is an exceptionally gifted writer and a meticulous editor. His wit and quirkiness seep into his writing, making any piece such a delight to read. I find his work experiential and immersive and wish he would write more. |
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Akriti ShilpakarFormer Editor Fr!day Magazine |
Published
Magazine covers or blurbs, my works in photos, videos and text have been published in more than 30 media outlets over the past few years. See where I have been published
Fast learner, adaptable
I’m always eager to learn a new trade in problem solving. Besides analytics (which I am formally trained in), all the skills I’ve acquired are self taught. I easily adapt to changes and tackle unfavorable situations.
Uncompromised results
I am result-oriented. I get work done on time, even if that means depriving myself of sleep, leisure or rest, if situation arises. This translates to nothing short of the best I can deliver.
Happy clients
I see that the final product I deliver meets clients’ expectation, and I do not settle until all parties walk out happy. Most of my projects that I am involved in are with returning clients. See reviews