"Twice in my life I've left everything behind to start over. Perhaps that is why personal relationships figure prominently in my work. I was born in Budapest, and at age 11 in the midst of the Hungarian uprising, I, with my parents and two brothers, escaped to Austria, where we spent six month in refugee camps before emigrating and settling in Montreal, Canada. More than 30 years later, I left Montreal to start a new life in the U.S. as a photographer, specializing in Black and White portraits, bringing with me an International perspective and a lifetime of experience.

While in Montreal, amongst other achievements, I earned a Fine Arts Degree from Ecole des Beaux Arts de Montreal, majoring in Graphic Communications and Photography, embarked upon a successful career as an Art Director and established my own design studio. In 1990, with political unrest brewing in Quebec, I felt that I had to move on. I sold most of my belongings, packed the rest into my car and headed for Providence, RI.

Although I have taken pictures and supervised photographers throughout my career, for the first time I began to see photography as a way to give something back to the world... focusing on relationships especially within families. I love connecting with people through my work, even for a brief moment in time. The human pursuit of happiness has true and lasting meaning to me. I love to capture the essence of personalities, the symbiotic relationship of mother and child, the bond between brother and sister. I love children and they immediately sense it and it shows in my portraits of them.

In the time that I have been in the US, I've had the opportunity to travel to many parts of the country to photograph families and I've come to realize that photography is not just a job or even a career to me... but that it is my life. I look forward to the time when children I photograph today come back with their own kids and I'll have the chance to create memories for another generation."

For quotes, information and any inquiries, please call 401/273-2633 or
e-mail carl.keitner@verizon.net

My studio is located in Wayland Square, Providence RI 02906