{{short description|American photographer (born 1961)}} [[File:Chris Voelker with cat.jpg|thumb|right|Christopher Voelker]] [[File:Christopher Voelker with Hope Award.jpeg|thumb|Christopher Voelker with Hope Award]]

'''Christopher Voelker''' (born February 2, 1961, in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] - Died September 11, 2014) was an American [[photographer]].

==General information== Voelker was a full-time [[wheelchair]] user due to a [[spinal cord]] injury ([[quadriplegia]]) from a high-speed, [[motocross]] accident at 16.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/52774 |title=Extraordinary Portraits: Famous Photographer with Disability Challenges Stereotypes Internationally |publisher=American Chronicle |date=2008-02-19 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>

He was predominantly self-taught, [[freelance]] studio photographer specializing in capturing counter-points of the human landscape in large-format ([[Hasselblad]] and [[Linhof]]), [[black and white]]. Hand developed prints which are an interpretation of his negatives are characterized by starkly voluptuous contrasts of body and space. The prints are expressions of something that is both personal and available for individual interpretation. With the arrival of digital photography it was a challenge that Voelker embraced. His true love, however, remained the mystery of emulsion; and film is the medium he reserves for his artistic output.

==Major studios and TV networks== He became the first photographer with a mobility impairment to work professionally for major studios and [[TV network]]s such as [[Universal Pictures|Universal]], [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], [[Touchstone Pictures|Touchstone]], [[NBC]], [[CBS]], [[Lorimar Productions]], [[UPN]], [[The WB Television Network|WB]] and [[The CW Television Network|CW]] networks. Voelker has also photographed such artists as [[Mick Fleetwood]], [[Billy Zane]], [[Carmen Electra]], [[Robert David Hall]], [[Christina Applegate]], [[Bow Wow (rapper)|Bow Wow]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Chris Burke (actor)|Chris Burke]], [[Brandy (entertainer)|Brandy]], [[Chingy]], [[Omarion]], [[Ruben Studdard]], [[Fantasia (singer)|Fantasia]], [[Angela Simmons]] and [[Tony Orlando]].<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==Publications== His work has appeared on national and international covers for magazines along with movie posters including ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', ''[[V Life Magazine]]'', ''[[Teen People]]'', ''[[TV Guide]]'', ''[[Angeleno Magazine]]'', ''[[Zink Magazine]]'', ''[[944 Magazine]]'', ''[[New Mobility]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=1194&srch=voelker |title=The magazine for active wheelchair users |publisher=New Mobility |date=2010-04-30 |accessdate=2012-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526203326/http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=1194&srch=voelker |archive-date=2011-05-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=822&action=browse |title=The magazine for active wheelchair users |publisher=New Mobility |accessdate=2012-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207191717/http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=822&action=browse |archive-date=2012-02-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Mobilitá Magazine]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pixelpastahome.blogspot.com/search?q=voelker|title=Pixelpasta}}</ref> ''[[Jewel Magazine]]''<ref>[http://concreteloop.com/2007/05/meagan-good-covers-jewel-magazine » Meagan Good Covers Jewel Magazine // 'Concreteloop.Com' - 'Glowin' In The Dark'<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412000500/http://concreteloop.com/2007/05/meagan-good-covers-jewel-magazine |date=2008-04-12 }}</ref> and ''[[RYK Magazine]]''.

He has developed a penchant for photographing bookjackets and has completed over 20 different covers ranging from Mystery writers to a book by [[Holly Robinson Peete]] on a Woman's guide to watching & understanding [[NFL]] football, titled ''Get your Own Damn Beer I’m watching The Game''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://football.about.com/b/2005/10/03/get-your-own-damn-beer-im-watching-the-game.htm |title=Get Your Own Damn Beer, I'm Watching the Game |publisher=Football.about.com |accessdate=2012-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207214529/http://football.about.com/b/2005/10/03/get-your-own-damn-beer-im-watching-the-game.htm |archive-date=2012-02-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

His photographs have been exhibited in both Los Angeles and [[New York City]] and will be featured in his upcoming book of black-and-white studio nudes due to be published in November 2008 by [[Dennis McMillan Publications]].<ref>{{cite web|author=caephoto |url=https://pixelpastahome.blogspot.com/2008/04/book-full-of-nudes.html |title=pixelpasta: A Book Full Of Nudes |publisher=Pixelpastahome.blogspot.com |date=2008-10-20 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref>

==Voelker Studio== Voelker worked for network gallery sessions, [[album]] covers and intimate portraits. He has spent the last 15 years at '''Voelker Studio''', a synergistic space in [[Northridge, Los Angeles, California|Northridge]], California. Going through different physical experiences has given Voelker unique empathy and insights into things that other people don't see. He has become a photographer of humans.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvOx7Hs7jyc |title=Christopher Voelker Celebrity Photographer |publisher=YouTube |date=2007-07-30 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref> Voelker was compiling "Portraits of Ability".<ref>{{cite web|author=caephoto |url=https://pixelpastahome.blogspot.com/2007_09_30_archive.html |title=pixelpasta: 9/30/07 - 10/7/07 |publisher=Pixelpastahome.blogspot.com |date=2007-10-08 |accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref> The book, set for publication in 2009 celebrates the physicality of power as realized by personal accomplishment of disabled people.

==Awards and prizes== * 1984 – ''Photographer of the Year'' for his work in the Journalism State of California Magazine * 2002 – ''Annual Anthony Award for Best Cover, Print Magazine Design'' for the quality of his work * 2013 - [[Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation]] ''Hope Award'' for his ongoing support to the disability community<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spinalcordinjury-paralysis.org/dailydose/2013/12/17/christopher-voelker-nabs-hope-award |title=Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis Community |accessdate=2013-12-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220133046/http://www.spinalcordinjury-paralysis.org/dailydose/2013/12/17/christopher-voelker-nabs-hope-award |archivedate=2013-12-20 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|33em}}

==External links== * [http://www.thevoelkerstudio.com/ Official website of Voelker Studio] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080820103426/http://darynkagan.com/artists/stories/ar_070330_hollywoodhotshot.html Interview with Chris Voelker (movie)]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Voelker, Christopher}} [[Category:American photographers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:Anthony Award winners]]