Chris Zwirner
Encyclopedia
Christopher Zwirner is an American
photographer.
He came to attention first as one half of the photo partnership Morand + Zwirner. There he gained notoriety for his lighting on fashion editorials for International Magazines such as Blink, Oyster (magazine), Lucier, and Prestige Hong Kong
, and for photographing celebrities such as Kerli Kõiv
, Olivia Wilde
and Dita Von Teese
as well as shooting for clients such as Island Def Jam and Epitaph Records
.
. His father Alex Zwirner was a Captain (United States) in the US Army. His mother is a painter
, Dion Zwirner. Zwirner is of German
and Belarusian descent on his father's side, Finnish and English
on his mother's. He moved frequently with his parents and younger sister, living in both the US and Germany
. At age 11, his father was transferred and relocated the family to Presidio of San Francisco
. The family relocated permanently in San Francisco after his retirement from the service. There Zwirner attended Marina Middle School, Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School
and graduated from San Marin High School
.
. In 1992, at the urging of an old roommate, he came to Los Angeles
to work on a Japanese television show being produced there Ultraman
. Afterwards he relocated permanently to LA and worked full time as a lighting technician. He gained experience on many B-movies and low budget films, many produced by Roger Corman
at his then Venice, CA. studio. He eventually gained acceptance as a journeyman lighting technician into IATSE Local 728. Union membership made it possible to work on movies and television shows such as, Man On The Moon, I Am Sam
, White Oleander
, and Deadwood
and work with people such as Norman Jewison
, Milos Forman, Roger Deakins
, John Bailey (cinematographer)
, David Milch
, and Dante Spinotti
.
artist
at Rhythm & Hues Studios, as the inspiration to
make a career out of photography. Working together to help each other build a separate portfolio of work eventually led to a partnership. Having strong skill sets from different parts of the film industry, they complimented one another, allowing them to create images that received attention from many in the photo industry.
"There are many more benefits than drawbacks for us," Zwirner emphasizes. "The best way to explain it is to use a band analogy. Paul McCartney
and John Lennon
were both great musicians on their own. But something really great happened in the collaboration. That's what happens when Gaelle and I work together: an amazing alchemy
takes place."
Morand + Zwirner's work has been published internationally as well as in the US, in publications such as Blink, Oyster (magazine), Lucier, Prestige Hong Kong
, Genlux, and they have photographed celebrities such as
Kerli Kõiv
, Olivia Wilde
, and Dita Von Teese
. Notable clients have included Island Def Jam and Epitaph Records
.
Zwirner left the partnership early in 2009 citing personal as well as creative differences, and currently is working solo. He is currently planning to tour INDIA
and South East Asia via motorcycle in September 2009.
A book of photo essays as well as a documentary of the journey are planned for 2010. He also has left the possibility open to re-team with Morand in the future.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer.
He came to attention first as one half of the photo partnership Morand + Zwirner. There he gained notoriety for his lighting on fashion editorials for International Magazines such as Blink, Oyster (magazine), Lucier, and Prestige Hong Kong
Prestige Hong Kong
Prestige Hong Kong is a luxury and high society magazine published monthly in Hong Kong by CR Media Limited. It features celebrities, fashion, high society, luxury goods, food, wine, travel, art, design, and photography. It was established in 2005....
, and for photographing celebrities such as Kerli Kõiv
Kerli Kõiv
Kerli Kõiv , better known mononymously as Kerli, is an Estonian recording artist.She was signed to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006 by LA Reid and in 2008, she released her debut album, Love Is Dead which charted at 126 on the Billboard 200 in July 2008 and at 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers...
, Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde is an American actress and fashion model. She began acting in the early 2000s, and has since appeared in a number of film and television parts, including roles in the serial-drama The O.C. and The Black Donnellys. She portrayed Dr...
and Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, author and actress.-Early life:...
as well as shooting for clients such as Island Def Jam and Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
.
Early life
Christopher Zwirner was born in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. His father Alex Zwirner was a Captain (United States) in the US Army. His mother is a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, Dion Zwirner. Zwirner is of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and Belarusian descent on his father's side, Finnish and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
on his mother's. He moved frequently with his parents and younger sister, living in both the US and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. At age 11, his father was transferred and relocated the family to Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
. The family relocated permanently in San Francisco after his retirement from the service. There Zwirner attended Marina Middle School, Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School
Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School
Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School is a high school in San Francisco, California, USA. It was a California Distinguished School from 1990-1992....
and graduated from San Marin High School
San Marin High School
San Marin High School is a high school located in Novato, California, in the United States. Novato is in Marin County.The current enrollment is 1039. The staff includes 62 certificated members including three counselors, one librarian and three administrators...
.
Early career
Christopher Zwirner began his career taking photography classes at City College of San Francisco as well as Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa Junior College is a community college located in the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California. Founded in 1918, it is the tenth oldest community college in the state. Santa Rosa Junior College was modeled as a "junior" version of nearby University of California at Berkeley...
. In 1992, at the urging of an old roommate, he came to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to work on a Japanese television show being produced there Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
. Afterwards he relocated permanently to LA and worked full time as a lighting technician. He gained experience on many B-movies and low budget films, many produced by Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
at his then Venice, CA. studio. He eventually gained acceptance as a journeyman lighting technician into IATSE Local 728. Union membership made it possible to work on movies and television shows such as, Man On The Moon, I Am Sam
I Am Sam
I Am Sam is a 2001 American drama film written and directed by Jessie Nelson, and starring Sean Penn as a father with a developmental disability, Dakota Fanning as his inquisitive seven-year-old daughter, and Michelle Pfeiffer as his lawyer...
, White Oleander
White Oleander
White Oleander is a 1999 novel by American author Janet Fitch. It is a coming-of-age story about a child who is separated from her mother and placed in a series of foster homes. The book was a selection by Oprah's Book Club in May 1999 and became a 2002 film.-Plot summary:Astrid Magnussen is a...
, and Deadwood
Deadwood (TV series)
Deadwood is an American Western drama television series created, produced and largely written by David Milch. The series aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006, spanning three 12-episode seasons. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before...
and work with people such as Norman Jewison
Norman Jewison
Norman Frederick Jewison, CC, O.Ont is a Canadian film director, producer, actor and founder of the Canadian Film Centre. Highlights of his directing career include In the Heat of the Night , The Thomas Crown Affair , Fiddler on the Roof , Jesus Christ Superstar , Moonstruck , The Hurricane and The...
, Milos Forman, Roger Deakins
Roger Deakins
Roger Antony Deakins, ASC, BSC is an English cinematographer best known for his work on the films of the Coen brothers. Deakins is a member of both the American and British Society of Cinematographers...
, John Bailey (cinematographer)
John Bailey (cinematographer)
John Bailey, A.S.C. is an American Cinematographer and Film Director.Born in Moberly, Missouri, Bailey attended Santa Clara University and Loyola University Chicago. During his junior year he studied German language and culture at the University of Vienna, where he developed an appreciation for...
, David Milch
David Milch
David S. Milch is an American writer and producer of television series. He has created several television shows, including NYPD Blue and Deadwood.-Biography:...
, and Dante Spinotti
Dante Spinotti
Dante Spinotti, A.S.C., A.I.C. is a cinematographer.Spinotti was born in Tolmezzo, Italy. Among the more notable films he has worked on are The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, and L.A. Confidential...
.
Photography
Maintaining a connection with photography throughout his time working in Hollywood, he credits his meeting of Gaelle Morand, a neighbor / friend and CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
at Rhythm & Hues Studios, as the inspiration to
make a career out of photography. Working together to help each other build a separate portfolio of work eventually led to a partnership. Having strong skill sets from different parts of the film industry, they complimented one another, allowing them to create images that received attention from many in the photo industry.
"There are many more benefits than drawbacks for us," Zwirner emphasizes. "The best way to explain it is to use a band analogy. Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
were both great musicians on their own. But something really great happened in the collaboration. That's what happens when Gaelle and I work together: an amazing alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
takes place."
Morand + Zwirner's work has been published internationally as well as in the US, in publications such as Blink, Oyster (magazine), Lucier, Prestige Hong Kong
Prestige Hong Kong
Prestige Hong Kong is a luxury and high society magazine published monthly in Hong Kong by CR Media Limited. It features celebrities, fashion, high society, luxury goods, food, wine, travel, art, design, and photography. It was established in 2005....
, Genlux, and they have photographed celebrities such as
Kerli Kõiv
Kerli Kõiv
Kerli Kõiv , better known mononymously as Kerli, is an Estonian recording artist.She was signed to Island Def Jam Music Group in 2006 by LA Reid and in 2008, she released her debut album, Love Is Dead which charted at 126 on the Billboard 200 in July 2008 and at 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers...
, Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde is an American actress and fashion model. She began acting in the early 2000s, and has since appeared in a number of film and television parts, including roles in the serial-drama The O.C. and The Black Donnellys. She portrayed Dr...
, and Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, author and actress.-Early life:...
. Notable clients have included Island Def Jam and Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
.
Zwirner left the partnership early in 2009 citing personal as well as creative differences, and currently is working solo. He is currently planning to tour INDIA
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and South East Asia via motorcycle in September 2009.
A book of photo essays as well as a documentary of the journey are planned for 2010. He also has left the possibility open to re-team with Morand in the future.