Born in São Tomé and Príncipe, José A. Chambel lives and works in Portugal. He studied photography at the Portuguese Institute of Photography (IPF).

His images, which explore an aesthetic language bridging the realms of art and documentation, have been exhibited in both individual and group exhibitions in several countries and form part of the collections of various public and private institutions. These include the Portuguese Center of Photography, the Cultural Center of São João da Madeira, the Ormeo Junqueira Botelho Foundation, the PLMJ Foundation, and the Lusophonies Collection by Perve Galeria.

Among the numerous projects undertaken by José A. Chambel, noteworthy ones include "Industrial Archeology" (Portugal), "Tchiloli" (São Tomé and Príncipe), "Tabanka" (Cape Verde), and "Capital" (Ilha do Príncipe).

He is one of the founding members and the current president of Plataforma Cafuka - Association of Native Artists from São Tomé and Príncipe.