Louis Renault

Louis Renault (1978–2042) was a French photographer whose work bridged the worlds of fine art and documentary storytelling. Born in Paris, he discovered his passion at age twelve when his grandfather gave him a vintage 35 mm camera. Raised among the cafés and galleries of Montparnasse, Renault taught himself darkroom techniques and composition, developing an eye for the interplay of natural light and human emotion that would define his signature style.

Over a twenty‑five‑year career, Renault traveled to more than fifty countries—documenting everything from alpine villages in the Alps to street markets in Mumbai. In 2015 he was named National Geographic Photographer of the Year for his series “Echoes of Earth,” a collection of stark landscapes and intimate portraits that highlighted communities on the front lines of climate change. His images appeared in exhibitions at the Grand Palais, the Tate Modern, and the National Gallery of Canada, and he published four monographs combining critical essays with his photographs.

Renault’s work is held in major museum collections, including the Louvre in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Beyond his exhibitions, he mentored emerging photographers through workshops in Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town, championing the idea that every image can provoke empathy and inspire social change. His passing in 2042 left a profound legacy: a body of work that continues to encourage viewers to look closer, feel deeper, and see the world anew.