Christopher "Puma" Smith

Christopher "Puma" Smith is a Richmond, Virginia and Washington D.C. based photographer and musician, born and raised in St.Thomas, Virgin Islands. Smith came to photography through documenting his travels with musical group Thievery Corporation, after joining in 2011 as a studio and touring vocalist. 

Smith's focus on portraiture and candid social documentary imagery has lead to assignments with The Richmond Free Press, New York Times, The Guardian, ProPublica and more. 

A highlight of his was to be able to travel and photo document the work of The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and CHAMPS Ethiopia, throughout several Ethiopian regions in 2019. Smith also had the pleasure to be interviewed by Aperture Foundation by then Executive Director Chris Boot, on his work on the unrest in Richmond, Virginia in 2020 and 2021. 

In 2020 and 2021 he collaborated with 3 time Grammy nominated graphic designer Neal Ashby,  for album artwork on "Symphonic" by Thievery Corporation, "Carry Me Home" by The Archives and an upcoming album by Brian Jackson.