8 Photographers From Chile The World Needs To Know

Delve into some of the finest photography taken over the decades from Chilean photographers, capturing both scenes from around the world and the social issues that burdened Chile and South America over the last century.

Tomás Munita

Munita is a freelance documentary photographer who is interested in both social and environmental issues. Having travelled to Syria, Cuba, and Afghanistan his photos are raw and emotional. Munita has received many awards including four World Press Photo Awards, 2nd place for International Photographer of the Year (POYi), ICP Young Photographer Award, and Latin American Photographer of the Year (PoyLatam).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTi25OmDC3I/?hl=en&tagged=tomásmunita

Aurora ‘Lola’ Falcón

From Chillán, Lola moved to Paris in the 1920s, where she married the diplomat, Luis Enrique Délano. Together they travelled as Luis worked as an ambassador, and Lola’s camera was always in hand. She used her photography as escapism, never expecting her work to be published or exhibited. However, her son Poli Délano showcased her best works for the world to see. You can view the book, Lola Falcón, por las calles del mundo, online.

Luis Poirot

Poirot graduated from the School of Theatre at the University of Chile, before continuing his studies in France. Upon his return he joined the Chilean art world as a professional photographer. In 1973, he had to emigrate due to the political unrest, and returned to France. He has won many awards, including the Nikon International Contest twice, and the Ansel Adams Prize as well as showing many important exhibitions, two of which were held in Bellas Artes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/8cHqPsNQx2/?tagged=luispoirot

Álvaro Hoppe

Hoppe’s photography is characterised through his urban and street photography and reporting during the most tense moments of the Pinochet dictatorship. He captured these moments for Apsi magazine, documenting the transition period through to democracy. His work has been presented worldwide, in Spain, the USA, and Ecuador. In addition, he took part in the filming of La ciudad de los fotógrafos (the city of the photographers), also featuring Paz Errázuriz Körner.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOr-GDTlldm/?hl=en&tagged=alvarohoppe

Jordi Castell

Castell is an important figure in Chilean television, as well as being a well-known photographer. In 1994, he graduated his masters at Escola Catalana Photography in Barcelona. Since then, he has had seven individual and 22 collective exhibitions, as well as being the manager and curator of diverse photography projects.

Leonora Vicuña

During the Pinochet regime (1974–1990), Vicuña lived in France and became one of the original founders of AFI. The AFI were the first association of independent photographers in Chile that fought for the restoration of democracy. Focussing on urban culture, she captures images at night, of the bars and restaurants in Paris, Santiago, and Barcelona. Her work has been shown internationally in both private and public collections.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC30jyJQ3m0/?hl=en&tagged=leonoravicuna

Marcelo Montecino

Montecino is known for capturing the political and social happenings in South America during the 1960s through until the ’90s when Salvador Allende was elected, from Chile and Bolivia to Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, among others. From nudes, to urban and landscape photography, he shows a range of talent.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRVfUiOlMNs/?hl=en&tagged=marcelomontecino

Luis Navarro

Having studied the fine arts at Universidad del Norte and specialising in photography, upon moving to Santiago he worked for Solidaridad magazine where he began reproducing the portraits of political detainees during the dictatorship. This inspired him to take to the street with his camera in hand.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQJBU4oAV0I/?hl=en&tagged=luisnavarrovega