Biography
Growing up, Cheyne took advantage of Southern California’s diverse regions, spending extensive time outside at local beaches and nearby mountains and deserts. During his years at Dana Hills High School, Cheyne excelled in sports and was on track to play baseball at the college level. However, an accident on the sports field brought his passion for photography to the forefront. Confined temporarily to a wheelchair and isolated from his friends and peers, Cheyne picked up his father’s old film camera and spent hours in the backyard, shooting roll after roll of film. Cheyne was able to return to school for his senior year and graduated with honors in art.
Cheyne was accepted to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. An internship in school led to a position as Editorial Photographer at the leading automotive magazine Motor Trend following graduation. This catapulted him into the world of automotive advertising photography. His work captured the interest of top automotive photographer, Vic Huber. Under Huber’s mentorship, Cheyne and the advertising crew photographed and filmed commercials for leading automotive brands including Target Racing Indy Car, Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes, and Aston Martin. Traveling across America and throughout the world on these photo shoots, Cheyne fell in love with the diverse landscapes of the world.
At age 24, Cheyne left that job to explore his true passion, discovering and capturing beauty of Nature’s wonders. Leaving Los Angeles, CA, he spent 17 months traveling around Europe creating his first collection, Backpacking Through Europe. He found amazing beauty and wonderment in both Nature’s elements and man’s designs.
After almost two years abroad, Cheyne returned home to continue his travels, focusing on the Western United States. In early 2010, his fine art landscape piece “Absolute” took 2nd place in an international awards ceremony for landscape photography- making Cheyne the youngest ever to receive the honor. This led to invitations for him to show his work in art galleries and museums all over the U.S and parts of Europe. Following shows in Miami and New York City, Cheyne began work on his second collection Tranquility, a series of diverse natural terrains, which he unveiled in 2012 at the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA. He was honored as one of the youngest artists to ever display his work at this world-renowned art show.
That catapulted Cheyne into over 25 art exhibits including a solo exhibit at the largest photography Gallery in Los Angeles before the age of 35.
Cheyne was also recognized with over 100 photography awards and honors since 2015, including Gold Medals from the Epson Pano Awards, MML International Photography Awards and PPA – Professional Photographers of America IPC Awards. With his crowning achievement of being excepted into The Wildling Museum of Art & Nature’s permanent art collection and having his work displayed next to original works from Ansel Adams.
In 2020 Cheyne was presented a Master of Photography Degree from PPA. He continues to exhibit his work throughout the U.S and internationally bringing awareness of the amazing beauty and fragileness of these wildlands, showcasing our urgent responsibility for protection.
Cheyne is still focused on photographing the epic beauty of the Western United States with the introduction of his newest collection Explorer.
Artist
Statement
As a photographer, my goal is to capture interesting landscapes in a unique and special way. To begin, much of my time spent researching a location is spent looking at weather reports. The weather is an integral part of my photographs, as it determines the light, color, and the overall feel of the final piece. When at the location, I hike and explore the area, studying the scenery and determining the composition I want to capture.
My work is a combination of several photographs that are later stitched together. This allows me to show more detail, with even small elements depicted with great clarity. It also allows me to print my photographs in large sizes without pixilation or loss of quality to the image.
In addition to my camera system, I use several camera techniques to capture my photographs. This can include customized camera settings, various lens filters, long exposures, and film choice. Through years of experience and practice, I carefully select the techniques and tools used for each individual photograph to enhance the scene’s natural beauty.
The photograph is not complete until I print the final image. Small adjustments to the printing process can affect the saturation, contrast and depth. Being involved in this final step is crucial as it gives me full control to fine tune the finished art piece.
Through my work, I celebrate the beauty and grandeur of nature, but also the solitude and peace that I feel when outdoors. I strive to isolate a part of the vast world into a single moment, for an experience that is both intimate and striking to viewers.
Camera Gear
All images have been captured with a professional high quality panoramic camera system, lenses & filters on location around the World. This allows for Cheyne’s limited edition photographs to be printed extremely large without losing detail clarity or color quality.
– ALPA 12 TC with Phase One IQ 150 Digital Back
– Rodenstock Medium Format Prime Lens
– Hasselblad 503 w/Film back/ Phase One Digital Back
Fine art photography, art nature photography, landscape photography, nature photographer, travel photographer, wall art, luxury fine art photography, fine art photographer, nature photography, Laguna Beach photographer, Laguna Beach Artist, home decor, home decoration, artwork, office decoration, interior design
Awards
MML – International Memorial Maria Luisa Photography Awards : Category Mountain Landscapes
Yosemite Valley – First Place (one of the most prestigious awards a photographer can receive)
Elysium – Finalists
Cheyne Walls : Recognized as the top America in this years competition
Fine Art Photography Awards
The Tree of Life – Finalists
Mystical Valley – Finalists
Yosemite Vally – Finalists
Siena International Photography Awards
The Tree of Life – Finalists
PPA – International Photography Competition
Yosemite Valley – 1 Merit (Inducted into the PPA Showcase Book)
Illumination– 2 Merits
Seal Rock – 1 Merits
Canyon Sunrise – 1 Merit
IPA – International Photography Awards
Yosemite Valley – Honorable Mention in Nature
Illumination– Honorable Mention in Nature
Yosemite Valley – Honorable Mention in Fine Art
PPA – Western District Finals
Yosemite Valley – 3rd Place in the Nature/Landscapes Category
PPA – Western District
Yosemite Valley – Sealed Image (received one of the highest scores of this years competition)
Seal Rock– Sealed Image
National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year
Yosemite Valley – Published
Monovisions Photography Awards
Yosemite Valley – Honorable Mention
Mystical Valley – Honorable Mention
Days End – Honorable Mention
Unknown Destiny – Honorable Mention
Outdoor Photographer Magazine : Great American Landscapes
Yosemite Valley – Published
International Book Awards
Miles from Los Angeles – Winner : Photography Category
Miles from Los Angeles – Winner : Art Category
Miles from Los Angeles – Finalist : Best Interior Design Category
IPA – Int’l Photography Awards : Category Self Published Book
Miles from Los Angeles – Named one of the best books of 2016
IPA – Int’l Photography Awards : Category Nature Book
Miles from Los Angeles – Honorable Mention (top 1% in judges scoring)
PPA – International Photography Competition
Cheyne Walls : honored as a Gold Medalist at this years competition
Place of Zen – 1 Merit (Inducted into the PPA Showcase Book)
Autumn – 2 Merits
Perspective – 2 Merits
Fountain of Youth – 1 Merit
Wildling Museum / National Parks Exhibit
Unforgiving – Inducted into The Wildling Museum of Art & Nature’s permanent art collection
Unforgiving – 1st place in photography / 2nd overall for entire exhibit
Gates of the Valley – Finalist
Epson International Pano Awards
2019
Aspen Grove – Silver
Eternal Lookout – Silver
Structured Chaos – Silver
Life Line – Silver
Surrender – Bronze
Canyon Sunrise – Bronze
Wind Power – Bronze
Frozen Fire – Bronze
2020
Grand Canyon Sunrise – Bronze
Paris Skyline – Bronze
2021
Days End – Silver
Unknown Destiny – Bronze
2022
Mystical Canyon – Silver
Half Dome, Among the Clouds – Bronze
2023
The Tree of Life – Silver (top 30)
Portal to the Sierras– Silver
View of the Gods – Bronze
PPA – Western District
Place of Zen – Sealed Image
Perspective – Sealed Image
Autumn – Sealed Image
Fountain of Youth – Sealed Image
(Sealed Image – Highest scoring images in a region and advance to the final round, 1 Merit awarded)
PPA – Professional Photographers of America
Elysium – Inducted in to The 2016 International Gift Collection & Presented to International Delegates – A selected fine art image representing the beauty of the World we live
MML – International Memorial Maria Luisa Photography Awards : Category Mountain Landscapes
The Tree of Life – Finalists
One Eyeland Photography Awards
The Tree of Life – Bronze
Mystical Valley – Bronze
Gates of Zion – Bronze
Unknown Destiny – Bronze
Epson International Pano Awards
2015
Elysium – Gold
Pacific Ocean Temple – Silver
Autumn – Silver
Yosemite – Silver
Autumn Glow – Silver
Serenity – Bronze
The Guardian – Bronze
Sacred Path – Bronze
Laguna Beach Wave – Bronze
Island Spirit – Bronze
PPA – International Photography Competition
Elysium – Top Honors 2 Merits
Defiant – Top Honors 2 Merits
Laguna Beach Wave – Top Honors 2 Merits
IPA – Int’l Photography Awards
Defiant – Honorable Mention
Place of Zen – Honorable Mention
Art – A – Fair Fine Art Festival
Cheyne Walls voted “The Best New Artist” by exhibiting Artists
Laguna Beach Photography Competition
Laguna Beach Lifeguard Tower – 3rd Place
Stu News – Reader Voted Photograph of the Year
4th of July in Laguna Beach – First Place
500 px – The Premier Photography Community
Elysium – Tops all categories with a score 99.7 out of 100 / October 10th
IPA – Int’l Photography Awards
Iconic – Honorable Mention
Photograph of the Year – Forum Photography Magazine
Iconic – Finalist / Honorable Mention
Epson International Pano Awards
Iconic – Bronze & High Honors
Defiant – Bronze
Gates of the Valley – Bronze
Unforgiving – Bronze
MIFA – Moscow International Photo Awards
Elysium – Silver Medal in the category : Nature – Panoramic
Iconic – Silver Medal in the category : Architecture – Cityscapes
One of the most important pieces of equipment in a Nature photographer’s arsenal isn’t always part of his or her camera bag – it’s their vehicle, tool watch and specialized gear. Much more than a method of getting from location to location, or the prefect instrument of keeping time can mean the difference between capturing or missing an epic shot.
Cheyne Walls travels throughout the U.S.A and Canada in his Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, with his trusted Rolex Explorer II & Submariner tool watches, photographing the brilliance of Nature and our National Parks.
