BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
After a decision to leave behind the University studies which would have led to a career in medicine, René de Carufel headed to the United States to study photography and there he discovered his true passion and vocation. Upon his return in 1975, he launched his career as a professional photographer. This move was challenging and difficult in the beginning, but an exhibition at the Bibliothèque Nationale de Québec entitled Les danseurs (The Dancers) helped to propel him towards a wider recognition.
For many years, the commercial work and artistic creation held equal importance in the studio. In the early 1980's, feeling a need to enlarge his scope and field of endeavor, René enrolled in the Cinematography program at Concordia University. He shot several films in 16mm some of which went on to be selected for International Film Festivals. During this period he travelled extensively through Europe, Africa, and Central America, shot videos and completed several journalistic photography assignments.
During the 1990's, two children were born and the new role of father inspired an intensely creative period. Several evenings a week were dedicated to the studio, giving birth to the exhibition Femmes en couleur (Women in Colour), and eventually led him to create a virtual photography gallery on the internet as a way to bring his work to a wider audience.
When a new century came knocking at the door, René enthusiastically plunged headfirst into the new era of digital technology. From this moment on, he would shoot mainly with high quality digital cameras, Photoshop (a tool he had already mastered) would become the new darkroom, a move eminently suited to his creative imagination.
A career that spans more than 40 years, thousands upon thousands of images have formed in René de Carufel an original and articulate photographic vision. He continues to embark upon new photographic projects, always pushing the envelope creativity and experimentation a little further.