Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Orwig.
Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started when I was skateboarding in college and was hit by a car. The accident wasn’t that bad but it left me with some lingering issues. While I was recovering my Dad gave me a camera and that changed my whole view of the world. Suddenly, rather than focusing on myself, I focused on the world around me. This shift in perspective helped me to heal. And it wasn’t just a healing of my feet and hands, it was a healing in my soul.
The camera is a powerful and transformative tool. And that’s one of the main reasons I capture photographs – that is to heal, grow and evolve. My main area of focus is people photography and every time I capture a portrait I consider it as an opportunity to grow. Many of the bigger life lessons I’ve learned have been the result of having a camera in my hand and I’m deeply grateful for that.
So you might say I’m a portrait photographer, teacher, and author, but that’s just what I do. Really, I’m someone who is glad to be alive and who is in search of light, love, and peace.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To create a good portrait, you must capture a paradox within a single frame. Charles Bauledaire put it best, “A portrait! What could be more simple and more complex, more obvious and more profound.” My biggest challenge has been creating portraits that live up to this idea.
It’s relatively easy to capture a portrait, but making a good portrait is incredibly hard. It requires the mixture of strong technical skills, an open heart, and a searching soul.
Please tell us about Chris Orwig Photography.
I’m currently finishing up a book titled, “Authentic Portraits: Searching for soul, significance, and depth.” I think that title basically sums up what I strive to do. I do not consider myself “set apart” but rather someone that is part of the movement of people who are searching for ways to live in a more mindful, deep and real way.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in Northern California in a home that was designed and built by my Dad. Our house backed up to the open rolling hills, creeks, cows and oak trees. Some of my fondest memories were wandering free in that landscape with my brother or friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: chrisorwig.com
- Phone: 805-415-2572
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisorwig/?hl=en
Image Credit:
© Chris Orwig
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
