Conrad Louis-Charles is a documentary and travel photographer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has shot assignments for corporate client SAP in America, Brazil, Argentina, and Singapore.
He has contributed work to Lonely Planet Magazine in Spain and National Geographic online and has stock photography represented by Getty Images.
Conrad collaborated on an Antarctica photo project with Brazilian navigator Amyr Klink sponsored by SAP Brazil. On another corporate project, he photographed challenges facing street children in São Paulo, Brazil. A book was published "The Dream", for the children foundation of Brazilian race car driver Emerson Fittipaldi.
Conrad has exhibited at Pentimenti and Taller Puertoriqueño Galleries in Philadelphia, Penn State University's Robeson Gallery, FNAC Gallery in São Paulo, and in galleries in Dominican Republic and Paris.
His work was also published in a photography book called "Terra d'agua" sponsored by Rhodia Farma which involved a medical research expedition in the Amazon of Brazil.
He worked as director of photography for the short film "Next Tuesday" filmed in Philadelphia and currently shoots documentary work.
Conrad's passion is photographing Brazil and Hispaniola where he travels extensively. Currently he is shooting documentary film and photo projects on religious pilgrimages in Brazil, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
" My curiosity with photography began when I was 14 years old. My father had lent me his old Nikon F camera and once in my hands, photography became an obesssion. During my late teenage years, I spent most of my summers traveling so I could experiment with photography and experience new cultures. Traveling and photography consumed me and after getting my first assignment for CARE in Haiti, I knew this was what I wanted to do as a profession.
Travel and documentary photography has allowed me to observe and experience the world in a profound way. When traveling, I immerse myself in the culture so this way I can do photography with a more sensitive way. With an interest in cultural anthropology, I use photography as a way for me to learn and understand the cultural dynamics of wherever I am traveling.
Cinematography and painting have influenced my photographic approach and creative process. Studying the works of painters helps me to understand the use of directional light, color, and contrast while cinematography allows me to approach photography with an awareness of perspective and movement within a frame. Light, color, texture, composition, movement, and content are all elements I try to balance and play off each other when making photographs. I love working with shadows and high contrast.