ABOUT
My name is Chris Casaceli, and I am a 28 year old filmmaker and Photographer based in Reno, NV.
A passion for creating exciting and beautiful imagery has possessed me from a very young age. I have always been interested in drawing, painting and visual arts of every sort, but growing up in Reno, Nevada, the annual Great Reno Balloon Race (GRBR) had a particular influence in focusing my artistic efforts towards photography and filmmaking. Something about the peaceful visual splendor of lighter-than-air aviation has captivated me endlessly from infancy into adulthood. As early as I have memories, year after year, I was on the launch field at Rancho San Rafael Park every morning of the event developing my budding passions for photography and filmmaking as I strove to improve upon my work from the previous year. I was additionally motivated to improve my skills when I learned that the winner of the annual GRBR photo contest was awarded a ride in a hot air balloon at the next year’s event.
Eventually, in 2014 one of my photographs depicting the Dawn Patrol against the Reno skyline won the contest, and I was awarded the balloon ride I had always dreamed of.
My photograph of the dawn Patrol at The Great Reno Balloon Race - Winner of the 2014 GRBR photo contest
The Great Reno Balloon Race From Above - Photographed in 2015 during my first ride in a hot air balloon.
Though I attribute my initial infatuation with the visual arts to the inspiring sight of hot air balloons, I also fell in love with the art of visual storytelling as I sought to expand and develop my photography and filmmaking skills in high school. Storytelling has since become the basis from which I derive inspiration for all of the visual art I create. There is a story to be found in everything, and I find nothing more exciting than visualizing and telling those stories through images.
After high school, I attended the University of Oregon on a music scholarship where I studied jazz music and composition. I maintained my passion for photography and filmmaking throughout my time in school, drawing a healthy amount of inspiration from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After graduating college, I decided to make my passion for photography and filmmaking into my full-time career.
In the last couple of years, I have been fortunate enough to take my passion for ballooning to another level, having achieved my private pilot certificate for hot air balloons in April of 2024. I now fly my very own balloon frequently in the Northern Nevada area and participate in local balloon events.