Lanka was born in France in 1976 and after graduating from the Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français in Paris in 1999, he has divided his time between Ireland and France.

Lanka has worked on various photo and cinema projects during his career, winning numerous prizes and also took part in the realization of four short films for The Lives of Spaces Exhibition at the eleventh Venice Biennale. His passion for photography began three years ago, but he has developed a characteristic style based on photojournalism and publishing.