Luis Alberto Rodriguez was born in New York City to Dominican parents and trained at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Juilliard. He danced professionally across Europe for 15 years before transitioning to photography, picking up a Canon Rebel in his late 20s and moving to Berlin in 2014 to pursue it full-time. His career shifted from dance stages to visual art, with his work now appearing in Vogue and exhibitions like Paris Photo. Known for earthy browns and stark whites, his photography highlights the human form with a textured, high-contrast aesthetic.
- Primary Genres: Fine Art Photography, Portrait Photography
- Primary Photography Style: Expressionism (dynamic, expressive shots that convey emotion through movement)
- Key Message: Rodriguez uses photography to explore the fluidity and expressiveness of the human body, often featuring dancers, merging the worlds of performance art and visual storytelling.
Rodriguez’s work centres on dancers and the human form in motion, capturing leaps and bends with a distinctive style. His aesthetic blends high contrast—earthy browns, cool greys, and stark whites—with textures like flexing limbs and shadowed skin, creating a visceral sense of movement.
He shoots handheld with digital cameras like the Nikon D850 and 85mm primes, using fast shutter speeds (1/500s) to freeze action while directing dancers live for natural flow. His lighting mixes studio setups with soft floods and hard strobes or natural light, avoiding filters for authenticity. In Lightroom, he boosts contrast, warms skin tones, and deepens shadows, producing bold, unpolished images. These vivid prints, often 30×40 inches, shine in galleries like Paris Photo and publications like Dazed.
For intermediate photographers, Rodriguez’s expressive approach offers a masterclass in dynamic storytelling. His digital workflow prioritises flexibility, while his use of contrast and texture mirrors the zone system’s tonal control, adapted for modern tools. Learners can study how he balances light and shadow to sculpt subjects, making his techniques accessible for capturing energy in motion.
His accolades reflect his rising status: named among the British Journal of Photography’s Ones to Watch (2019), he also won the Prix de Public and American Vintage prize at the Hyères Festival (2017). His work has graced Vogue, Dazed, and Paris Photo exhibitions. Trivia reveals his depth—after 15 years as a dancer, he’s self-taught in photography, inspired by choreographer Pina Bausch, and prefers minimal studios starting with a Canon Rebel.
- Accolades:
- Winner of the 2019 Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography Grand Prix.
- Recipient of the 2020 Foam Talent award.
- Selected for the 2021 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize shortlist.
- Trivia:
- Before pursuing photography, Luis was a professional dancer, which influences the dynamic compositions in his work.
- His series “People of the Mud” explores the cultural traditions of Irish hurling communities.
- Luis often collaborates with his partner, artist Hannah Modigh, blending their artistic visions.
Lessons from this Photographer:
Rodriguez teaches photographers to harness movement and light for compelling narratives. His use of fast shutter speeds and handheld shooting captures action cleanly, while mixed lighting sculpts form with depth. Editing for contrast over polish amplifies emotion, encouraging experimentation with texture and rhythm to let subjects’ energy steer the fram
Website and Instagram:
YouTube References:
- Photographer Luis Alberto Rodriguez Understands the Power of Movement – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lfIgDHcp8o
Citations:
- Luis Alberto Rodriguez official website: https://www.luisalbertorodriguez.com
- Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/luisalbertorodriguezstudio
- Atmos interview: https://atmos.earth/sphere/luis-alberto-rodriguez/
- 1854 Photography Ones to Watch 2019: https://www.1854.photography/2019/05/ones-to-watch-2019-luis-alberto-rodriguez/
- 1854 Photography interview: https://www.1854.photography/2020/06/luis-alberto-rodriguez-on-the-subject-of-the-body/
- Document Journal interview: https://www.documentjournal.com/thenewvanguard/entrant/luis-alberto-rodriguez/
- Metal Magazine interview: https://metalmagazine.eu/en/post/luis-alberto-rodriguez-1
- Christoph Winkler profile: https://christoph-winkler.com/en/people/luis-rodriguez/
