Chris Olness

California native Chris Olness was born in San Francisco and now lives in Los Angeles. He’s a documentary photographer with a passion for strong images and voyeuristic adventure. His camera has taken him to the shores of Indonesia, rooftops of Paris and deserts of Mexico. His modern eye is drawn to the poetic harmony of form and light. The work is focused on storytelling, relationships and solitude.
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Olness captures the stark beauty of the world he roams. Drawn to Eastern philosophy, wabi-sabi flows through his work like the tide over sea glass. Olness believes photography provides us with a unique opportunity to reflect on the world within and around us.
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Olness’ exploration with the still image is complimented by his work as a director of cinema. He developed his love for photography and storytelling while working in visual effects editorial for George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic (ILM).
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If words were photos, Olness would shoot like John Steinbeck. In The Log from the Sea of Cortez, Steinbeck and his best friend marine biologist Ed Ricketts journey on the Western Flyer from the dri...

American Film Institute - Directing Fellow 2003
U.C. Berkeley - B.A. Mass Communications 1995
San Francisco Art Institute