Born in Prague on 27 September 1919.

He attended the Zlin factory school and then worked at a local weekly.

In 1940 he moved to Prague, where he worked as a photographer for different periodicals and at the National Theatre.

Between 1943 and 1948 Karel Ludwig headed the Photography department of the Lucernafilm Studios of Prague.

In 1949 he joined the Association of Czech Artists.

Karel Ludwig cooperated with many Czech magazines dealing primarily in cinematography.

Due to serious health problems he destroyed the bulk of his photo archive in the early 1950s.

Karel Ludwig died in Prague on 4 July 1977.