About Chantal Simone

Chantal Simone James (b. 1977, Toronto, Canada) is a photographer and editor based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her work focuses on the human condition and the visual language of emotion, using an improvisational approach influenced by rhythm and movement. She explores fleeting moments of connection, seeking forms of expression that hover between observation and intuition.

With an interest in polychronic cultures—where time flows fluidly and public and private life intersect—she studies the choreography of social interactions, capturing gestures that build narratives in motion. Sensitive to her subjects and surroundings, she highlights the nuances of everyday life, uncovering quiet details that suggest deeper layers of meaning.

For over 30 years, photography has been both Chantal’s profession and way of life—shaping her approach to visual storytelling, editing, and writing. Constantly on the road, she has explored the intersection of culture, place, and narrative, crafting meaningful stories through images.

A graduate of Parsons School of Design, she began photographing street life in Brooklyn and Harlem in the mid-1990s. Drawn to the warmth and rhythms of the South, she traveled extensively across Latin America and the Caribbean, eventually making Rio de Janeiro her home in 2005.

While living in Havana in 2000, she founded La Rampa Magazine, a large-format publication dedicated to photography, design, and unconventional storytelling. The magazine has since featured issues produced in Haiti, Cuba, Brazil, and most recently, Portugal—continuing her commitment to photography as a language of exploration and creative expression.

In addition to her editorial work, Chantal runs immersive photo retreats and workshops in Brazil—part photographic adventure, part mindful escape. Designed to help photographers define their artistic identity, these retreats blend in-the-field exploration with reflective storytelling, guiding participants in crafting personal and documentary narratives. Through hands-on practice, editing sessions, and discussions on intention and meaning, she encourages photographers to move beyond observation and create images with depth and perspective.

Her work has been exhibited at major festivals, including Miami Art Basel, The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. She has also contributed to VOGUE, VICE, and The Christian Science Monitor, among other publications.