A native of Montgomery (Fayette County), Chuck Ray Conner returned to West Virginia in 1977 and established a freelance business in Spencer. His work has appeared in national magazines, been on the cover of three books, and been exhibited in a variety of venues. He was a partner in a stock photography agency (AppaLight) and at times provided private photography/darkroom lessons. For 12 years, he documented the Pentecostal serpent-handling church, the "Church of the Lord Jesus,"in Jolo, WV, through the "Beyond the Serpents" project.
These days, he pursues his photography mostly for his personal enjoyment, rarely taking on assignments or other work. He is drawn to street photography, nature, and collages. He also spends time researching his catalog of negatives, transparencies, and other related images is trying to bring those to life in some form and find spaces for their preservation and use.
