born in Landshut in 1936, worked as a window dresser in Barcelona, Toronto, and Geneva from 1957 to 1965 before moving to New York to become a photographer. There, he not only discovered street photography but also began exploring the boundaries of the medium from the very start—experimentation was an integral part of his work from the beginning. In 1970, he returned to Germany.
 
From the very beginning, Schels pursued his own distinctive artistic vision. In the years following his return, he was also a sought-after commercial photographer—working on campaigns for companies such as L'Oréal, Lufthansa, and Deutsche Post, as well as for magazines like "Elle", "Stern", "Playboy", and "Bunte". 

As an empathetic observer, Schels focuses on the unadulterated expression of his subjects: people, animals, plants. In long-term studies and portrait series, Schels explores extreme situations in human life—birth and death, identity, transience, and taboo. The series *Noch mal leben* and *trans*, created in close collaboration with author Beate Lakotta, combine photography and text into a harmonious whole.

WALTER SCHELS' GAZE IS PROFOUNDLY SEARCHING, EMPATHETIC, AND DESPITE ITS CLOSE-UP VISIONS MAINTAINS RESPECTFUL DISCRETION
F. C. GUNDLACH

He views photography as an open-ended process. Through overpainting, solarization, double exposures, and the use of photographic chemicals, he transcends the medium’s boundaries and enters the realm of painting. “An image is never finished,” he says. The darkroom is where he gains insight into the world.

Schels has received numerous awards for his work, including the Hansel Mieth Prize, the World Press Award, a gold medal from the Art Directors Club Germany, and a Lead Award. His photographs are included in major collections and have been exhibited internationally—including at the Wellcome Collection in London, the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, the Deichtorhallen in Hamburg, and the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.
Walter Schels has lived and worked in Hamburg since 1990.